Real Madrid have seen an improvement in performances of late, with more minutes for their second tier, with the likes of Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz making key contributions. However, Endrick Felipe failed to break into the first team.
The Palmeiras product arrived this summer for €40 million plus €20 million in add-ons, about half of which have reportedly already been completed. Despite a positive start in the Spanish capital in his first cameos, Endrick has failed to score minutes in seven of Real Madrid's last 12 games.
However, Ancelotti had little time for criticism. As Los Blancos emerged on the other side of an injury crisis, he was asked about those who say he should be substituted more often.
“It's true, it's true. I can rotate certain players, but if I have a team of fourteen to fifteen players… I don't have much to rotate. And it is not always positive to involve certain players when they are young.”
“There's a lot of talk about Endrick, minutes… blah blah blah, there's a lot of talk, but I also have to think about when to bring in the players, whether it will help them, and blah blah, blah blah. It's not easy. If I have few players, it is normal that I rotate less.”
The Italian coach said it did not bother him that he was criticized for not giving young players opportunities.
“No, no. Because it is not reality. That's why it doesn't bother me.”
Earlier this week, Ancelotti was asked if the teenage striker could be loaned out for more playing time in January, something Ancelotti rejected. He was asked what exactly Endrick needs to work on to get those minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“But not only he has to work, but everyone. He is very young and has one of the best strikers in the world in front of him. You have to be patient. Of course, he would like to play more, but he doesn't ask for anything. Let him continue learning in this way. That's all.”