‘They don’t help in defence’ – Carlo Ancelotti on Real Madrid’s lack of ‘balance’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has on Friday turned heads, with his comments on the club’s lack of balance over the early weeks of the season.

Spanish champions Real have of course endured something of a hit-and-miss opening to the campaign.

The capital giants, thus far, have managed five wins and two draws across their seven outings across all competitions.

Whilst as much, on paper, looks a solid return, however, concerns have long been present when it comes to the nature of Los Blancos’ performances.

Even on their way to a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart in the club’s Champions League opener on Tuesday, Real regularly found themselves pinned back, played through between the lines far too easily.

Many have pointed towards a lack of balance in the club’s XI as the key factor in as much, with Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff still accounting for both the summer loss of Toni Kroos, and arrival of Kylian Mbappé.

Speaking in his pre-Espanyol press conference on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his side’s inconsistencies was put to Ancelotti himself.

And the response laid out by Real Madrid’s headmaster, highlighted below, has since piqued widespread attentions:

“I know you all think we lack balance because Vini, Mbappé and Rodrygo don’t help in defense. But that’s not their job…”

Conor Laird – GSFN