His English week has crowned Real Madrid with its third victory in six days. After the 2-1 win at Villarreal, however, there was still bad blood. The schedule is a thorn in the side of the Blancos.
After the emotional highlight last Wednesday – the penalty drama against city rivals Atletico – Real Madrid returned to the league routine on Saturday evening. But initially there was a hangover mood because the brisk Villarreal took an early lead.
But the Whites could count on Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice in the space of six minutes to turn the game around and ultimately decide the game in the visitors’ favor. In the tight title race in Spain, Real have successfully laid the foundation.
And yet the mood after the final whistle was gloomy. “We have to thank these players who have made a great effort from January 3rd until today, especially today,” Carlo Ancelotti began at the press conference and then added: ‘I think this is the last time we will play a game with less than 72 hours’ rest, we will never play like this again.”
The Real Madrid coach also attacked the Spanish football calendar makers. “We have asked the league to change the schedule twice and nothing has happened, but this is the last time,” announced Ancelotti.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had saved Real from further goals in the pressure phases of Villarreal, took the same line. “It was a lot of work, our players were very tired, but you could see their commitment,” praised the keeper, who is about to return to the Belgian national team.
“In the end, we play when we have to play,” Courtois made clear to the club’s own TV channel: ‘We don’t want any excuses. I’m glad I can say that we didn’t lose despite not having a break.’
Courtois speaks of ‘Super Sunday’
But it’s just “not normal for us to play 120 minutes, take penalties, with all the wear and tear, and then have to play again at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. I understand that La Liga doesn’t like to have the big three play on the same day. But sometimes it’s the right thing to do, the Premier League does it often.”
Courtois saw a “lack of respect for our team” in the scheduling. Injuries cannot be ruled out like this. Then the Real Madrid first-choice goalkeeper pointed to the island again. “We could play on Sunday, a super Sunday, like in England. With Real playing first and then Atleti and Barcelona. It’s also good for TV, but sometimes other interests come into play,” criticized Courtois.
