Real Madrid managed to secure a hard-fought win against Valencia after the Christmas break, but the mood in the dressing room was far from festive.
According to Marca, Carlo Ancelotti was left frustrated at half-time, with his side trailing 1-0. He reportedly criticised the players for their ‘apathy, laziness, lack of sacrifice, and failure to help teammates’.
The coach raised his voice in his team talk, noting the importance of maintaining their lead in La Liga. This was the second time this season Ancelotti had a tense moment with his players, following losses to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Despite setbacks earlier in the season, Ancelotti has seen improvements in his squad’s attitude. However, the Valencia match showed signs of the negative mindset that had troubled the team before.