Ancelotti: "Nobody wanted to play over the weekend, but we don't make the decisions"

Carlo Ancelotti's press conference ahead of the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu focused on the decision by LaLiga to continue with the scheduled matches despite the tragedy in Valencia caused by the DANA, which hit the area hard and resulted in over two hundred deaths. "It's been a week since the tragedy. We are saddened. We are very close to Valencia and all the affected towns. Hopefully, this can be resolved soon. Talking about football at this time is a bit complicated, just as playing football is complicated because we are part of this country and all this affects us greatly," said the Real Madrid coach, lamenting that the matches were not canceled and complaining about the little consideration given to players and coaches in such matters.

"Nobody wanted to play. This seemed like the right decision, but we don't make the decisions and we have to respect those who do," said Carletto, emphasizing that "football should have stopped this weekend" and then "help, even if it didn't stop." "Football is a celebration, and you can celebrate when you are well. But when people are not well, there should be no celebration. Football should have stopped because it is the most important of the least important things in life. But we are employees of this world, we are not the decision-makers," insisted Ancelotti, highlighting that all coaches agreed to stop but argued that the power coaches have "is equal to zero." "There is a saying that the show must go on, but it's not like that. We are employees, and sometimes decisions are made," he added.

Ancelotti avoided commenting on the incidents that occurred during the visit of the Kings and the Prime Minister to the Valencian town of Paiporta on Sunday, but he showed empathy with the citizens' feelings. "They are frustrated, which is quite normal because what happened there this week was incredible, but I am not here to evaluate what the politicians have done. I am saddened to see people affected in this way. We are in 2024, and we are not capable of fixing this type of tragedy," commented the Real Madrid coach, noting that "politics is a very complicated issue, not only here in Spain but in all countries." "What is the fault of politics, I honestly don't know. But what I do know is that yesterday's frustration is understandable because there are people who have lost everything," he added.

This whole situation made Ancelotti gloss over the analysis of the match against Milan during his press conference. "We don't feel like talking much about football because compared to what happened in Valencia, it is less important, but it is our profession, and we move forward. It is a special match, but everything takes a back seat," said Ancelotti regarding that duel, who had glorious years at Milan, first as a player and later as a coach of the Lombard team. "We have prepared for the match because we are professionals and will try to win," explained the Real Madrid coach, despite acknowledging that "it is very difficult because you don't have your head in your work all the time."

He did mention the awarding of the Ballon d'Or to Rodrigo Hernández when most predictions pointed to Vinicius as the winner of the trophy. "It has been a difficult week, and it is a difficult week because the atmosphere is not normal, but not because of the Ballon d'Or. The Ballon d'Or has passed, congratulations to the winners. The sadness is not there but because of what is happening here in Spain," pointed out the Italian, who insisted: "Vinicius is sad like us, but not because he didn't win the Ballon d'Or but because he is seeing what happened in Valencia."