Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has again told La Liga President Javier Tebas to keep his nose out of their business, after the latter criticised the Italian for his lack of substitutions and rotations.
The polemic stems back to a threat made by Ancelotti before the international break, where he said that it was the last time Real Madrid played with less than 72 hours of rest after his side beat Villarreal. Tebas has since come back at Ancelotti, noting not only that Real Madrid had rejected the chance to schedule a game against Leganes with more than 72 hours of rest, but that Ancelotti’s use of substitutions and lack of rotation might help him out in his battle against the calendar.
Ancelotti responded to Tebas ahead of their game with Leganes, not for the first time.
“I knew his obsession with Real Madrid, but I didn’t know his obsession with the coach. He needs to focus on his own things, because he’s disrespecting Real Madrid and the coaches.”
However he did water down his threat regarding Real Madrid not playing without 72 hours of rest.
“I think I have to add one thing: without justified reason. Sometimes it’s not possible, but when it came to the Villarreal game, the schedule could have been changed. Villarreal agreed, and so did the television stations, but La Liga didn’t. If a game can be changed and they don’t change it, we don’t play. If it can’t be changed for another reason, we’ll show up.”
The Real Madrid coach rejected the notion that the title race had been decided already, after Barcelona went three points ahead of them with a win over Osasuna.
“Barcelona has the advantage, but we’re going to fight until the end. We are now entering, what I hope is the decisive phase of the season. And we have the Clasico. Hopefully, we have 17 games left until the end.”
Los Blancos will be without several key players against Leganes on Saturday night, but Ancelotti did provide optimism regarding their Champions League clash against Arsenal in ten days.
“Courtois is a small thing, and we’re trying to get Ceballos and Mendy back for the first leg against Arsenal.”
“We’ll see [about rotations]. I have options to make changes… We have a pretty complete squad and [Tchouameni] could be part of the rotations I want to make.”