The Frenchman and the Italian were not exactly warmly received at the home base of Real Madrid.
The Madrid fans were waiting for him. Just eight minutes before kick-off, when the Bernabéu public address system announced the starting XI for the Copa del Rey last-16 match against Celta Vigo, followed by the substitutes, a wave of boos rippled through the stadium.
The target of the crowd's disapproval was Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was singled out for his disappointing performances as a centre-back this season – especially his poor performance in last Sunday's 5-2 defeat in Jeddah.
The cheering grew louder, forming a chorus of whistles and shouts directed at Tchouaméni, who had already sensed the hostility. He had earlier been booed as he came out to warm up, although the reaction was milder at that point as the stadium was still full.
The fans' frustration was clear. Against Celta, Tchouaméni returned to his more familiar position as a midfielder, but his reputation among the Bernabéu faithful had been tarnished since his poor performance against Milan, where his errors contributed to a 1-3 home loss that gave the Rossoneri the advantage.
He wasn't the only one under investigation. Carlo Ancelotti's reception after the Super Cup defeat was also uncertain. When the Italian manager's name was announced, reactions were mixed: whistles alternated with timid applause, although the uproar never reached the intensity aimed at Tchouaméni.
Throughout the start of the match, the France international continued to hear whistles when he touched the ball, highlighting the fans' dissatisfaction.
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