Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team "must find an improvement fast" after their 1-1 draw at Las Palmas left them four points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona at the top of the table.
Alberto Moleiro put Las Palmas ahead in the fifth minute, and Vinícius Júnior levelled with a second-half penalty, as Madrid were held for the second time in three league games, following their opening 1-1 draw at Mallorca.
Kylian Mbappé played the full 90 minutes --- taking nine shots, two of them on target, for an xG (expected goals) of 0.51 --- but was unable to score for the third game in a row.
"It was a bad first half," Ancelotti admitted in his post-match news conference. "It was hard for us to find the goal. We had to hang on, suffer a bit.
"The team wasn't balanced, we weren't moving the ball quickly. It was hard for us to win the ball back. Everything that happened [in the draw] against Mallorca. I didn't see an improvement in the team. We must find an improvement fast, and I think we'll find it."
Spanish champions Madrid began the season winning the UEFA Super Cup -- with Mbappé on the scoresheet -- before beginning their 2024-25 LaLiga campaign by dropping two points at Mallorca.
They beat Real Valladolid 3-0 at home on Sunday, and after Thursday's draw at Las Palmas, they will host Real Betis on Sunday, before travelling to Real Sociedad after the international break.
"It's been hard for us to find the solidity we had last year," Ancelotti said. "We can't look for excuses, we have to improve fast, we have another game on Sunday.
"I have to be clearer in the strategy on the pitch, to give clarity to the players. It's been harder for us than we thought... These three games have shown me a lot of things that aren't going well."
Ancelotti made four changes to his team against Las Palmas, with Lucas Vázquez, Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric and Brahim Díaz coming in, without a notable improvement.
"The play is slow, there isn't much mobility, and without the ball it's hard for us to be compact," Ancelotti said. "We're leaving spaces between the lines. The problem is clear, we have to find the solution ... When there's a problem, the coach has to take the responsibility."
The Italian also insisted that Madrid wouldn't look to strengthen before the transfer window closes on Friday, saying "the squad is closed."
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Ahhh Man City next 5 match !! LOL Big clubs in Europe Is this the start of a NEW RIVALRY? Chelsea fans seeing this.. Rodrygo getting ready to face Manchester City like.. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Just toon it, trollfootball, The Football Arena, AZR Organization)...
We've reached the final straight of this year's winter window, with clubs across the Premier League and Europe scrambling to complete deals before Monday's deadline.Manchester United have had a quiet window so far, but with deals lined up - both incomings and outgoings - things could be about to get busy in the final days.Clubs have until 3 February to complete all dealsArsenal are another team pu...
Manchester City will let Kevin De Bruyne decide his future as he enters the final five months of his contract. De Bruyne to make decision on his Man City future as he comes to the end of his contractDe Bruyne, City's most trophy-winning player, had significant interest from Saudi Arabia last season. Having played 23 times this season, the Belgian is open to extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium...
Tottenham Hotspur are exploring the possibility of signing Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan, CaughtOffside has been told.The 26-year-old has found his first-team opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge this season, prompting interest from several Premier League clubs, with the latest being the Blues’ rivals Spurs.Since joining Chelsea from AS Monaco in 2023 for approximately £35 mi...
Aston Villa are interested in signing Marcus Rashford before the transfer deadline, sources have told ESPN.Rashford is available after being frozen out by Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim.It is not yet known whether Rashford would be open to a move to Villa Park, although sources have told ESPN that there is little optimism on all sides that a deal could materialise.A source has told ESPN...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Nuno and his 2nd manager of the month award milk Mbappe We're so back Bookies headquarters after the AC Milan red card Man City fans at HT vs Man City fans at FT "What a week, huh?""Gaffer, it's Wednesday." Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss)...
Neymar has confirmed he will return to his boyhood club, Santos, as he looks to recover from an ACL injury that has heavily disrupted his career in recent seasons.In an emotive post on Instagram, Neymar said that re-joining the Sao Paulo-based side that he left for Barcelona in 2013 was "like going back in time," describing it as the perfect place to regain his form and fitness."Only a club like S...
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran is expected to fly to the Gulf state on Friday to complete a £64m move to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh.Al-Nassr are interested in signing Mateo KovacicJhon Duran is expected to complete a £64m move to the clubBrighton's Kaoru Mitoma is also a target of the Saudi sideThe Saudi Pro League side also lodged a £54m bid for Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma.Brighton rej...
Tottenham Hotspur have had a €60 million ($62.5m) offer accepted by Bayern Munich on Thursday for their French forward Mathys Tel, sources have told ESPN.Tel, 19, has decided to leave the German side and is attracting a lot of interest from English clubs.Bayern wanted €60m for the France under-21 international and Spurs have become the first team to agree a deal with the Bavarian giant...
Ramos in advanced talks over free transfer to Mexican clubFormer Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is reportedly in discussions with Mexican club Monterrey regarding a possible transfer.Dorgu to complete €35m Man Utd move as medical scheduledLecce star Patrick Dorgu is reportedly set to fly to England ahead of a medical and a €35 million move to Manchester United.Neymar sends emotional ...
- 1 Kerkez and £83m ace join as Salah signs
- 2 Ashley Cole, wife Sharon, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy on luxury skiing holiday
- 3 Enzo 'trying to fix romance with childhood sweetheart'
- 4 'exciting' Betis on signing Man Utd flop
- 5 Napoli confirm Garnacho interest
- 6 LaLiga ace Alex Berenguer & model wife ‘have gun pointed at them’
- 7 Kyle Walker’s wife in talks with ITV for HUGE reality show
- 8 Fresh Lauryn Goodman claims rock Kyle Walker’s marriage
- 9 Transfer news LIVE
- 10 Meet Jude Bellingham's new model WAG