Liverpool inflicted more misery on their European rivals, Real Madrid, by defeating them 2-0 on Wednesday in the fifth round of the Champions League group stage. This defeat marked Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s third loss in the competition.
As a result, Liverpool regained the top spot with 15 points, while Real Madrid remained in 24th place with just 6 points. According to Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Ancelotti was notably angry about the heavy defeat to Liverpool and criticized two key players, Kylian Mbappé and Ferland Mendy, for their poor performances. He held both players responsible for the loss.
Ancelotti’s frustration didn’t stop there. He also shouted at Moroccan star Ibrahim Diaz and threatened to return him to the bench due to his underwhelming performance, despite starting the match. Ancelotti has little confidence in both Arda Güler and Ibrahim Diaz as key players, and with injured players returning soon, he plans to bench them.
In an unexpected move, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez entered the locker room after the match, expressing his anger over the team’s difficult position in the European standings. He also criticized Ancelotti, particularly for starting Ferland Mendy over Ferran Garcia, despite Garcia’s strong performance in the previous La Liga match against Leganés.
Pérez also threatened Ancelotti with dismissal if the team fails to perform in any upcoming Champions League matches. He also scolded Mbappé for his poor play and for missing a penalty that could have brought Real Madrid back into the match. Pérez warned that he would not tolerate Mbappé’s form for much longer, indicating that the French forward could be sold in the next summer transfer window if his performances don’t improve.
