Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has explained why his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday night.
The loss came after a late goal from Carlos Romero sealed the victory for Espanyol, despite Vinicius Junior’s first-half goal being ruled out following a foul by Kylian Mbappe on Pol Lozano in the build-up.
In the second half, Espanyol’s goalkeeper Joan Garcia was kept busy, saving shots from Lucas Vazquez, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, as Real Madrid struggled to break through.
In his post-match interview, Ancelotti acknowledged Espanyol’s strong defensive performance and effective counter-attacks.
“It was a difficult, tough game. We did some things well, we had good control, especially in the second half. We had a goal disallowed, hit the post, and had 20 shots on goal,” Ancelotti said.
“The game was under control, but Espanyol, who played very well on the counter, caught us off guard and scored. They got the game they wanted.”
He continued, “Espanyol defended very well; they did what they needed to do. We could have done better, but it wasn’t as bad as the result suggests. We had chances. We’re still in the fight, and now we must focus on the next game.”
