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regular-article-logo Thursday, 12 December 2024

Champions League: Alarm bells ring at Ancelotti's Madrid with a 3-1 defeat against AC Milan

'We need to be worried, we are not showing the best version of ourselves,' Ancelotti, known as Don Carlo, said. 'We are not compact as a team and we need to change that. We lack order in the team and, as a result, we're conceding too many goals'

Our Bureau And Agencies Madrid Published 07.11.24, 11:49 AM
Alvaro Morata scores AC Milan's second goal against Real Madrid during Tuesday's Champions League match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Alvaro Morata scores AC Milan's second goal against Real Madrid during Tuesday's Champions League match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Reuters

There were plenty of jeers at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Before the match, when the Champions League anthem was played. And after the match, when Real Madrid saw their 15-game unbeaten run at home in the Champions League come to an end.

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Madrid fans still appeared upset by Vinícius Junior not winning the Ballon d'Or ceremony, and also with yet another poor performance by the team. Madrid followed up their 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the La Liga Clasico with a 3-1 defeat against AC Milan in the Champions League, and coach Carlo Ancelotti didn't hide his concerns.

Milan's Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders all got on the scoresheet, while Vinícius netted for the hosts.

"We need to be worried, we are not showing the best version of ourselves," Ancelotti, known as Don Carlo, said. "We are not compact as a team and we need to change that. We lack order in the team and, as a result, we're conceding too many goals."

Madrid, the European powerhouse that has a record 15 Champions League titles, have now conceded seven goals in four matches in the competition, with their other loss coming in a 1-0 defeat at Lille. They have trailed in their last three games in the competition, though they rallied to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in their other home game after conceding first.

"It's normal to be worried in this situation," Ancelotti said. "We'll endure long nights, but we have to work on improving things and find that solidness that we've had for so long and now we don't have it."

The result left Madrid in 17th place in the 36-team league phase.

"We need to stick together and try to correct what we are doing badly," Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. "It's not a crisis. I'm sure we'll rise again."

AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca said he was proud of his players' effort.

It was Milan's first win against Real in 15 years. "We won because the players had the courage to come here (Madrid) and not be afraid of anything," Fonseca told a news conference.

AP/PTI, Reuters

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