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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has vowed that his team will never again take to the pitch with fewer than 72 hours of rest between matches. His comments came after Los Blancos’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, just days after their exhausting Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, which went to penalties.
“I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours (of rest),” Ancelotti told reporters. “We will never play another game (without) 72 hours of rest. We asked La Liga twice to reschedule the game, but they did nothing. This is the last time.”
FIFA recommends a minimum of 72 hours between games to safeguard player health, but Madrid’s schedule left them with significantly less recovery time. Despite the fatigue, Kylian Mbappe’s brace secured the win, sending Madrid to the top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Ancelotti praised his squad for overcoming the difficult conditions. “I am very proud of this team. It was a potential banana skin—considering the short rest and the quality of the opposition—but we fought and won.”
The Italian has long criticised the increasing demands on players, with Madrid also set to compete in the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
Mbappe admitted the quick turnaround was tough. “Everyone saw the match against Atletico, 120 intense minutes. It’s very difficult to play again two days later, but we respect this club and fight to the end. That’s what we did today,” he told Real Madrid TV.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois echoed the frustration, calling the scheduling disrespectful. “We won’t make excuses, but it’s not normal to play at this time today,” he said. “La Liga doesn’t like scheduling the three biggest teams on the same day, but sometimes it’s necessary. It was a lack of respect for the team and our players—we could have had injuries. Tomorrow, Atletico play Barcelona, and that’s fine. It could have been a ‘Super Sunday’ with Madrid playing first.”
