Actual Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti has refused to just accept defeat within the La Liga title race, warning leaders Barcelona “something can occur in soccer”.
Barcelona have been moments away from being topped champions on Wednesday night earlier than 20-year-old defender Jacobo Ramon’s Ninety fifth-minute winner for Madrid towards Mallorca ensured the title race would drag on for no less than one other 24 hours.
Victory over Espanyol on Thursday night can be sufficient to seal the title for Barcelona, who sit 4 factors forward of a Madrid facet who solely have two video games left to play this season.
Whereas it could look like a foregone conclusion that Barcelona will get their fingers on the title, Ancelotti warned his Clasico rivals to not get complacent at this stage within the season.
“The workforce hasn’t given up regardless of the difficulties we’ve confronted,” he started. “We have been capable of make up for these [injury] losses, that are of many essential gamers, with a superb angle each collectively and individually… I’ve by no means seen a workforce that has shot 40 instances on purpose like we’ve.
“We solely consider in successful our recreation within the subsequent residence recreation after which seeing what occurs. Clearly, [Barcelona] must play and in soccer something can occur.
“We have performed nicely offensively. In these kinds of video games you battle extra to attain, and this season we have conceded plenty of targets for a lot of causes, and the factor is that we have at all times been quick 4 or 5 defenders.”
Reflecting on the season as an entire, Ancelotti doubled down on his evaluation that accidents had hampered Madrid’s bid to raise the title.
“Lots of absences, and we have been nonetheless capable of, with a unprecedented effort… it will have modified the season from the beginning,” he concluded.
That is Ancelotti’s closing La Liga title race because the Italian tactician will step down on the finish of the season as a way to develop into the brand new Brazil boss. Xabi Alonso is predicted to take his place within the Bernabeu dugout.
