Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has drawn the line on fixture congestion, declaring that his team will never again take the pitch with fewer than 72 hours of rest.
Speaking after Madrid’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday—just days after a grueling Champions League clash against Atletico—Ancelotti made his frustration clear.
“I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours of rest,” Ancelotti told reporters. “We asked La Liga twice to change the game time, and they did nothing. This is the last time.”
The Italian coach emphasized that FIFA recommends a minimum of 72 hours between matches to protect players’ health, yet La Liga scheduled Madrid’s game without considering the players’ recovery.
Despite the tough schedule, Madrid managed to secure the win, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to push them to the top of the La Liga table.
Ancelotti has been vocal about the increasingly demanding football calendar, especially with Real Madrid set to compete in the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the U.S.
With tensions rising between top clubs and football governing bodies over fixture congestion, will Ancelotti’s stand spark change? Only time will tell.
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