“We are struggling to find our solidity”

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the press at the Santiago Bernabeu discuss Real Madrid –to Milan Champions League matchday four: “The reality is what we see on the pitch and something is missing. We have to fix it. It’s going to be a long night, that’s normal. We all need to think about how we can improve things and find the solidity we’ve had for so long and are now missing. We struggle to find that solidity. We have conceded nine goals in recent games and that is far too many for a team that has built its foundation on a solid foundation.”

“We created a lot of chances and lacked a bit of a clinical edge, but the most important thing is how easily our opponents find attacking opportunities. That is our main problem and we must solve it. From a defensive point of view, we can’t be like we were tonight.”

Difficult period as a coach
“Every year there are difficult periods where you have to fight, dig and think. What is unusual is that this team has put in a fantastic performance and has fallen away very quickly in recent matches. That’s part of football, but the good thing is that you get the chance to react quickly and we still have a home game so we can get back to being the team we were last year.”

Is it unfair when people question you?
“I don’t think it’s unfair. I think it’s to be expected that if the team isn’t performing at its best, that’s the coach’s responsibility. It is important that we all have that sense of responsibility. When we win, we win together, and when it’s time to dig in and fight, we have to do it together because then we are much stronger.”

“We all have to step up and the team is united and together in that sense. Suffering brings teams together and helps you get through the difficult period as quickly as possible. It’s good that the players are upset. It’s going to be a very long night, but that’s good because it means we’re all thinking about how we can improve.”

“It’s a healthy locker room. There is currently a lot of criticism about the attitude and training. You have to accept people’s opinions, but we have to focus on the reality, which is that we are not playing well and we want to do better, otherwise we will not be in the mix at the end of the season. We have to fix things and improve defensively because that is the key. I have to try to find solutions to bring out a more balanced, solid side, but without going too crazy with a lot of changes. A few small tactical details can change things.”

Do opposition teams do more than Real Madrid?
“Last year we did not outrun the opposition and we achieved victory Champions League. That’s not a problem, what matters is that you are stronger. We need to work together better. We failed to deliver an effective group performance. We need to work more on a collective level.”

Do you believe this team will compete for trophies?
“We are confident that this team will improve and compete in every competition, just as it always has.”

Valverde substitution
“It’s not easy to have people’s opinions on social media. I took it off because it wasn’t 100%. He had a back problem and he didn’t look very good physically.”

Tactical accuracy of Italian football
“Italian football is generally more closed tactically. We were way too open and made life easy for Milan.”