La Liga: Real Madrid need clearer strategy, more clarity, says Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday there was no excuse for his side’s slow start to the La Liga season.

Forward Vinicius Jr fired in a second-half penalty to cancel out Alberto Moleiro’s early opener as the Spanish giants salvaged a nervy 1-1 draw.

Ancelotti said he expected his team to play better together and blamed himself, saying that he needs to work harder and do a better job.

“It is clear that we are struggling to find the soundness of last season. But we must not look for excuses. The schedule is tight and we have to recover quickly as we have a game on Sunday,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“I need to have a clearer strategy, to give the players more clarity in what I want. It’s costing us more than we thought.”

After only one win in three matches to start the season, last year’s La Liga and Champions League winners Real are fourth in the standings with five points, four behind leaders Barcelona.

Ancelotti was asked about Kylian Mbappe, who joined Madrid in July from Paris-Saint Germain but has yet to score in La Liga, but the coach refused to criticise individual players.

“Our game has been slow and the strikers are receiving the ball with the opposing teams already close,” Ancelotti said.