Real coach Ancelotti explodes: Never again in less than 72 hours!

Real coach Ancelotti explodes: Never again in less than 72 hours!

Real Madrid regained their temporary top spot in La Liga with a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday. But after the game, coach Carlo Ancelotti was anything but satisfied. The reason? The league's tight schedule required the team to return to action just 66 hours after a thrilling penalty shootout against Atlético Madrid. Ancelotti expressed his displeasure: "I think today is the last time we will play a game in less than 72 hours. We will never play a game after less than 72 hours of rest again," he said laola1.at reported.

Confrontation with La Liga

Real Madrid is getting serious about the dispute over the burdens on professional footballers and is embarking on a collision course with the Spanish football league. Ancelotti is threatening to no longer compete if a certain rest period between fixtures is ignored. FIFA recommends a rest period of 72 hours and Madrid requires compliance with this rule. Courtois reiterated that the physical strain carries immense risks, which could even lead to injuries, and noted that one should ask for respect for the players. “I think that was disrespectful to our team,” the goalkeeper said azonline.de reported.

Those responsible for the league, however, contradict the Madrilenians' accusations. According to information from the sports newspaper “Marca”, the request to change the kick-off time was rejected and the 72-hour rule is only a recommendation, not a clear obligation. However, the Spanish league considers it mandatory to have at least two full days of rest between games. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense and could have far-reaching consequences for future fixtures in the Primera División.