Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was again forced to defend his work this season on Wednesday as he faced the press for the first time since the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona. He also calmed talk of moving Aurelien Tchouameni from the center back position despite problems in the final.
Two of the main criticisms for Ancelotti have been the insistence on using Tchouameni in the center of defense, ahead of Raul Asencio, and Lucas Vazquez at right-back.
“I think Tchouameni has done well as a central defender because the data says so. As soon as we no longer have an emergency, he will return to his place as the pivot.”
“I think Asencio is a central defender and to put him on the right side he needs time because he is not used to that. He has done very well in the matches he has played, but let's not forget that he has only been here for two months.”
In response to their defeat, Ancelotti wanted to minimize the importance of one match.
“It's a step back, but we have to move forward. There is the rest of the season where we are well positioned in all competitions. It was clearly a bad match, we evaluated it and looked for solutions.”
The Italian coach said earlier this season that he was immune to criticism of his decisions, but personal criticism did not sit well with him. Ancelotti was asked if there was any particular criticism that had hurt him this time.
“I don't follow the wave of criticism that one day you are the best in the world and the next day you are the best. I have the necessary balance that experience has given me, to know who I am and not to be carried away by the wave, otherwise one day you are the best and the next day you are the dumbest… I think I'm not the best, but I guess I'm not the best either, but I'm not the dumbest either.”
Ancelotti has shown in the past that he is capable of healing deep wounds and getting Real Madrid back on track, but this season he is running out of time to patch things up. In La Liga, Los Blancos are in a good position, but further poor results could threaten to send them into a spiral.
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