Ancelotti Slams Real Madrid Defense Surprise La Liga Loss to Villareal

• Carlo Ancelotti has blamed Real Madrid’s poor defending for the Spanish champion’s shock La Liga loss to Villareal
• The Spanish champions suffered their second loss of the season in La Liga to the Yellow Submarines after conceding two preventable goals
• Real Madrid failed to topple title rivals Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table following the surprise loss to Villareal

Carlo Ancelotti felt his Real Madrid defense let him down after the La Liga champions suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Villareal on Saturday, January 7.

The veteran Italian manager used a make-shift defense after starting Brazilian Eder Militao as right-back following the injury to Dani Carvajal.

According to Marca, Ancelotti believes his defenders had faulted in reading the game which forced them to make too many mistakes in the loss to Villareal.

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“We didn't defend well, we made mistakes at the start and then getting back into the game is not easy. we have to read the situation better.

“If they press you well, we have the possibility of getting the long ball, we shouldn't have problems getting a long ball. Sometimes it's the reading that fails, it's not that good.”

Real Madrid saw their title push suffer a massive setback after the loss to Villareal as the Spanish champions remain in second spot behind rivals Barcelona.

Ancelotti at odds with Real Madrid president

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez are not on the same terms in regard to the Italian wishes to sign Nicolo Zaniolo, Football Espana reports.

Zaniolo has emerged as a target for the club, with Ancelotti particularly keen to move for this fellow Italian with the midfielder out of contract in the summer.

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However, despite Ancelotti’s willingness to do a deal, Perez is reportedly unsure about a move for Zaniolo, having identified Jude Bellingham as a top target rather than the AS Roma midfielder.

Ancelotti blasts referees after surprise penalty call

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Carlo Ancelotti is not pleased with the referee’s decision to award two penalties in Real Madrid’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Villareal on Saturday, January 7.

Los Blancos suffered their second loss of the season following a 2-1 defeat to the Yellow Submarines at the Estadio de la Ceramica but Ancelotti was more concerned by the penalties awarded.

Centre referee Cesar Soto Grado made two big calls after he awarded both sides a penalty each for handball in the box and Ancelotti believes both calls did not have strong merit to be given.