Carlo Ancelotti apologises to Real Madrid fans after Girona loss
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has apologised to fans after Los Blancos were thumped 4-2 by Girona on Tuesday.
Four goals from Taty Castellanos handed Real an emphatic defeat and left them 11 points behind Barcelona, who have played one game fewer and can move closer to the La Liga title when they face Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois were left out of the squad, while Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo all started on the bench but were introduced to try and turn the result around.
It was a stunning defeat for the Champions League semi-finalists, and after the game, Ancelotti was quick to recognise the significance of the loss.
"This game does not represent Madrid," Ancelotti said. "We apologise, but we must look forward.
"It is difficult but easy to explain. We have not been forceful as in the last games. There has been a lack of commitment. We left too many transitions. With the ball, we started well, but without the ball, we left too much space."
Read the latest Real Madrid news here
feed
Asked for his message to the fans, Ancelotti continued: "I understand that you are hurt. We apologise. So are we. But the fans know that we will be fine, both in the Copa del Rey final and in the semi-final [against Man City].
"It's tough, because when you lose, it has to be. The game has been bad in defence, and that has been the key, because with the ball we did well, especially at the beginning. But we weren't forceful in the duels, they caught us in two counters and, from there, everything became more difficult.
"We tried to come back individually, not as a team. Because today, the team has not played. The individual level was also below normal, not just for some, but in general. The level has been very low."
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Chelsea's likely appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, the carnage at Tottenham and Harry Kane's next steps, David de Gea and Harry Maguire's Man Utd futures, Lionel Messi's impending Barcelona return & more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!