Ancelotti Criticizes Fixture Congestion as Real Madrid Faces Champions League Playoffs

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed frustration over the club’s congested fixture schedule, as the team prepares for a grueling Champions League playoff against Manchester City. The Italian coach lamented the lack of preparation time due to the team’s packed calendar, which includes critical LaLiga matches and a potential Copa del Rey semifinal.

“There’s no preparation when you play every three days,” Ancelotti said during a press conference on Friday. “It’s recovery, videos, game, recovery, videos, game, for 40 days. We’ll need to rotate to have the players ready. We’ll need the entire squad at this stage of the season.”

Real Madrid’s disappointing performance in the Champions League group stage left them outside the top eight, forcing them into a playoff round. The team will face Manchester City in a two-legged tie this month, adding to an already demanding schedule. After their LaLiga match against Espanyol, Madrid will play in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, followed by a derby against Atletico Madrid and the first leg of the Champions League playoff.

Ancelotti remained pragmatic about the situation, stating, “In a perfect world, we wouldn’t play them, but we weren’t able to get into the top eight, and that’s OK. Playing two more or fewer games doesn’t matter … we have the resources to deal with it.”

The coach also addressed speculation surrounding forward Rodrygo, who has attracted interest from other clubs. Rodrygo has been in stellar form, scoring seven goals in January, including two braces in the Champions League. “It’s hard to talk about the future of players, because they’re personal decisions,” Ancelotti said. “What I see is that the players here are happy to be here and want to stay here, they want to win trophies.”

Ancelotti confirmed the return of Vinícius Júnior after a two-game suspension, emphasizing the player’s maturity and readiness to contribute. “He’s aware of what he has to do on the pitch,” Ancelotti said. “He’s a mature person, and we’re delighted he can come back. He’s trained well, he’s fresh and can bring a lot to the team tomorrow.”

With 13 games scheduled before the March break, Ancelotti stressed the importance of every match. “Every game can be vital,” he said. “From today, they start to be vital. Every game we have a lot at stake for the season.”