Carlo Ancelotti how he handles the complaint after the defeat of Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup Ultimate in Barcelona. (1:22)
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday met with club CEO José Ángel Sanchez to discuss the state of the team and transfer options following their 5-2 Spanish Supercopa loss to Barcelona this past weekend, a source told ESPN.
The source stressed that the meeting was routine and downplayed any crisis, saying both sides discussed problems that have plagued Los Blancos since the start of the season.
Ancelotti and his coaching staff have asked for more defensive resources since the summer transfer window. Madrid were close to signing Leny Yoro to cover Nacho’s departure but the young French player eventually signed for Manchester United and Real Madrid opted not to reinforce the back line.
Alphonso Davies is also an objective of precedence, but Madrid sought to respect Bayern Munich and, despite attempts throughout the year, he did not review to indicate when he only had one year left in his contract. Madrid is still tracking the future of the Canadian, however, Germany’s most recent reports recommend that the player can renew his contract with German giants.
As ESPN has reported, Madrid continue to seek a player to replace the injured right-back Dani Carvajal and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is their top defensive option. However, ESPN sources have said that Liverpool have already rejected an approach from Real Madrid to sign the full-back in the January transfer window, making it likely that the Spanish giants will wait until the summer to sign him on a free transfer,
Sources have told ESPN that Ancelotti and his coaching staff have not yet give up on January signings and await word from the club’s board so they can reinforce the backline before the end of the month. Their other option is to boost the role of Raúl Asencio and, depending on their opponent, insist on Lucas Vázquez or even return Fede Valverde to right-back.
Another option for the club is defender David Alaba, who returned to the striker of the semifinal team of the supercop opposite to Mallorca after a year dismissal due to a deep knee injury. Austria’s foreigner was set aside for 12 months before making his return to education sessions with the group, he is not expected to play competitive MINS until later in January and resources have said that education personnel are involved who Alaba time will be taken to return to form. The defender Jesús Vallejo saw little game time.
The club has fought against Carvajal and Eder Militão, who suffered an ACL torn in November, and the resources have said they are involved on how Real Madrid will be in the Champions League. In addition to the consecutive defeats of Barcelona, the whites also tested the defeat against AC Milan, Lille and Liverpool.
In LaLiga, they controlled an opposite draw to Atlético de Madrid, which now takes LaLiga at the end of the first part of the season.
The source said the club hopes the coach’s usual calm demeanor will help turn the team’s situation around and there is the general belief within the club that a LaLiga title is still within reach if performances improve over the second half of the season, whether the club can sign reinforcements or not.
Real Madrid host Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday. On Wednesday, Ancelotti said there was no need for an overreaction with Madrid just one point behind LaLiga leaders Atlético Madrid and alive in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
“I’m not the wave of criticism, one day you’re the most productive and the next you’re the stupidest,” he told reporters. “Fortunately, thanks to my experience, I have a balance. I don’t think he’s the most productive, but I don’t think he’s the stupid one. “