Carlo Ancelotti Slams Referee After Shock Real Madrid Defeat to Espanyol

Ancelotti Furious Over Referee’s Failure to Show Red Card to Espanyol’s Romero

Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, was left seething after his team suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Espanyol in La Liga. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Madrid were stunned by a late goal from Carlos Romero, who had been involved in a controversial tackle earlier in the match.

Ancelotti’s Anger Over Romero’s Tackle on Mbappe

The pivotal moment of the match occurred in the first half when Espanyol’s Carlos Romero cynically fouled Kylian Mbappe, preventing him from breaking away on a counter-attack. Despite the clear nature of the foul, referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz only showed Romero a yellow card, sparking outrage from Ancelotti.

Speaking to the press after the defeat, the five-time Champions League-winning coach expressed his disbelief:
“The decision the referee and VAR made is inexplicable. Everyone saw it. The most important thing is to protect the player. It’s a very ugly challenge. Fortunately, nothing happened in terms of an injury, but VAR is there for that. It’s inexplicable that he didn’t show a red card.”

Real Madrid’s Missed Opportunities and Espanyol’s Late Shock

Despite overwhelming Espanyol with 21 shots, including seven on target, and 76% possession, Real Madrid were unable to break the deadlock. Espanyol’s defense stood firm, and five minutes from time, Romero scored the match-winner with a controlled volley, sending Madrid to an unexpected defeat.

Ancelotti continued to lament his team’s inefficiency in front of goal:
“We did some things well, particularly in the second half. We had chances, a goal ruled out, and we hit the woodwork. Espanyol played well in transitions, defended strongly, and took advantage of our mistakes to score.”

Romero Apologizes for Tackle on Mbappe

Carlos Romero, the man who scored the winner, even apologized to Kylian Mbappe for the foul, admitting to DAZN:
“I knew it’s impossible to stop Mbappe on the run. I did what I could to stop him. The challenge was a bit ugly, and I didn’t like that, so I said sorry to him.”

Looking Ahead: Real Madrid’s Focus Shifts to Manchester City

After this unexpected setback in La Liga, Real Madrid’s focus now shifts to Champions League action. Their impressive recent form, with victories over RB Salzburg and Brest, has set up an exciting two-legged knockout round play-off against 2023 winners Manchester City.

What Do You Think?

Do you agree with Ancelotti’s comments regarding the referee’s decision? Was Romero’s foul deserving of a red card? Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below!