Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he got his tactics wrong for Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
While the draw was enough to see Madrid through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the performance itself at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday left a lot to be desired with Leipzig almost doubling the home side’s efforts on goal on the night – having 20 shots on goal to Madrid’s 11.
Boos and whistles from the home fans could be heard throughout as supporters voiced their disappointment towards the performance, and Ancelotti quickly admitted he was to blame for the team’s showing.
“We have to be critical because it has happened again,” he said. “When we have a small lead we don’t know how to handle it mentally. We don’t press and we lack intensity.
“Maybe I made a mistake in the lineup, but I wanted to bring more intensity and energy, and we didn’t do that. That’s where we have to improve and evaluate what we didn’t do well.
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“My idea was to put the midfielders in with energy to press high up, maintain a high tempo and prevent counter-attacks. It was a weak performance, with a low block and we weren’t able to press high.
“It was a tough game, we couldn’t handle this kind of advantage as we did last season against Liverpool. It also happened to me in my first season against Schalke when we won the first leg 0-2 and lost the second leg 3-4. We have to prepare for the games in a different way.”
Ancelotti will be forced into some personnel changes ahead of the La Liga clash with Celta Vigo this weekend, with star man Jude Bellingham set to serve a suspension for being sent off in Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Valencia.
