Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, emphasized that every player, including goalkeepers, has their inherent weaknesses. He pointed out that Kepa’s particular vulnerability lies in dealing with aerial balls, but he also praised him as an excellent shot-stopper. Ancelotti stressed that errors are an inevitable part of the game, especially when facing a formidable opponent.
Facing strong opponents like Napoli or Galatasaray can indeed lead to unexpected errors, even from players who excel in certain aspects of their game. In the case of Andre Onana, his misplaced pass that potentially cost Manchester United the game against Galatasaray serves as an example. It’s a reminder that pressure situations in high-stakes matches can sometimes lead to uncharacteristic mistakes, regardless of a player’s usual strengths.
Real Madrid boss gives witty response to criticisms
After their Champions League clash with Napoli, Carlo Ancelotti expressed that Napoli has been their greatest contender on the group stage.
Carlo Ancelotti, who previously navigated Napoli through a challenging 19-month period from 2018 to 2019, made a triumphant return to manage Real Madrid following a brief tenure with Everton. In his second spell with the club, Ancelotti achieved an impressive feat by securing six prestigious trophies, adding to his already illustrious managerial career.
The Real Madrid boss had nothing but high praise for their last Champions League matchday two opponent; “Napoli is one of the best teams in Italy. They’ve retained their structure under new coach Rudi Garcia, displaying a high level of skill, individual talent, and an electrifying atmosphere that drives them forward.”
Carlo Ancelotti also had to defend Kepa, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, in a rather witty way. Kepa’s attempt to punch out a Napoli corner kick was unsuccessful in the 18th minute of play, leading to the host’s first goal during Real Madrid’s Champions League visit to the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
Ancelotti came to Real Madrid’s goalkeeper’s defence, saying, “In that particular play, we all could have done better.” When asked about Kepa’s challenges with high balls, Ancelotti responded, “Each player has unique characteristics. I believe Kepa is exceptional when it comes to shot-stopping; he made a great save in the first half.”
He continued saying, “Of course, he may encounter some difficulties with high balls, as he’s not two meters tall, and that’s perfectly normal. Nobody is flawless. I’m quite handsome, but I’m not perfect,” Ancelotti humorously concluded his press conference, skillfully defending his goalkeeper in the process.”
The Real Madrid boss finally concluded by commending Jude Beliingham’s brilliant display during the match. Bellingham scored an indeed marvellous goal, sparking warm compliments from the boss. “For his character, his personality. He is always focused on the match and knows what he needs to do, which is rare in a 20-year-old player,” Ancelotti remarked.
Kepa conceded seven goals in eight games for Madrid
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was the revered stage for a classic Champions League showdown on Tuesday night, as Carlo Ancelotti made a triumphant return to Napoli with Real Madrid, securing a 3-2 victory.
The match began with a goal from the home team, courtesy of a Kepa error in goal that allowed Leo Østigård to open the scoring. However, Real Madrid quickly rallied, with Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham scoring two goals in seven minutes, both in a similar fashion, to regain the lead for the visitors.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was far from a clean sheet in yesterday’s match, as he conceded two goals. Before yesterday’s clash, Kepa had conceded 5 goals already in 6 appearances for the club. Now with yesterday night’s concessions, Kepa already has 7 seven-goal deficit in just 8 appearances for Real Madrid.
