Ancelotti Declares Real Madrid Will Not Compete Without 72-Hour Rest

Synopsis

Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti declared that the team will only play matches if there is a minimum of 72 hours of rest between games. He expressed dissatisfaction with La Liga's scheduling and emphasized the importance of player recovery.

Key Takeaways

Ancelotti insists on a minimum of 72 hours rest for players.
Real Madrid contacted La Liga regarding scheduling issues.
Victory against Villarreal highlights team's resilience.
FIFA recommends a 72-hour rest period between matches.
Mbappe played a crucial role in the match.

Castello (Spain), March 16 (NationPress) Coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that Real Madrid will refrain from participating in any matches unless there is a minimum of 72 hours of rest between games. He mentioned that the club had reached out to La Liga twice regarding the scheduling conflicts, but unfortunately, there has been no response.

Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, but the match commenced just under 67 hours after their previous encounter against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16, which extended into extra time and penalties.

"We performed well physically. By the second half, the team was fatigued, but that was expected. This victory highlights the resilience of our squad and the depth of our resources. This will be the final instance where we play without a 72-hour rest. We will never compete without that amount of recovery time. We reached out to La Liga for adjustments twice, yet nothing has changed," Ancelotti stated during a post-match press conference.

In 2023, FIFA recommended a minimum mandatory rest period of 72 hours between matches, which Madrid has cited in their appeal to La Liga.

Real Madrid managed to come back against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica and temporarily claimed the top position in the league following a successful week, which also included their advancement to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Kylian Mbappe was pivotal, scoring two goals in the first half to equalize after Foyth's early strike. Villarreal established a rapid pace that soon caught Madrid off guard, who had not enjoyed a 72-hour rest since their last game. Thibaut Courtois executed a brilliant save in the 7th minute to deflect Ayoze's shot for a corner.

Baena's corner was not successfully cleared by our defense, and the ball, after deflecting off Tchouameni's back, fell to Foyth, who capitalized with a left-footed shot to give Villarreal a 1-0 lead.

“I am immensely proud of my players because it was a challenging match due to our rest period and the strength of the opposition, who play exceptionally well. We physically endured; although the team was tired in the second half, that was anticipated. This victory speaks volumes about the team and the qualities that this squad possesses," Ancelotti remarked.