Real Madrid faced their first defeat in the Champions League, losing 1-0 to Lille on Wednesday night. This result granted Lille their first three points in the league, while Real remained at three points from their earlier win against Stuttgart.
Following the match, according to the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, President Perez confronted Ancelotti in the locker room, visibly upset. He questioned Ancelotti’s choices, particularly the inclusion of Camavinga and Endrick in the starting lineup. Perez felt the penalty awarded to Camavinga was due to his lack of match fitness after returning from injury.
The report indicated that Perez criticized Ancelotti for relying on Endrick in a challenging away match, suggesting Rodrygo would have been a better choice. Their discussion grew heated, with Perez stating he saw no tactical plan during the game and questioning Ancelotti’s dependence on individual talent.
Furthermore, Perez expressed to a club member during the match that this team deserves a coach better than Ancelotti, despite his contributions. He views Xabi Alonso as the ideal candidate to elevate Real Madrid into a strong attacking side.
Ancelotti later apologized to Perez, acknowledging his mistake in starting Camavinga and revealed he would not include Endrick in future Champions League lineups.
The newspaper reported that Ancelotti and his assistant, Davide, are frustrated with Ferland Mendy’s performance, as he has been underwhelming this season, prompting Ancelotti to substitute him at halftime.
In a conversation with Perez, Ancelotti expressed his longing for Toni Kroos, emphasizing that the midfielder’s absence has greatly affected the team’s performance, and he hasn’t found a suitable replacement for Kroos’s role.
In a surprising statement, Perez told Ancelotti, “Kroos has left and won’t return; adapt to this situation and ensure Real Madrid’s ambitions don’t fade this season, or you may face dismissal.”
