Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, has sparked a heated debate with La Liga president Javier Tebas over the scheduling of the team’s matches. The controversy began when Real Madrid faced Villarreal just 67 hours after their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, which Ancelotti deemed unacceptable.
Ancelotti claimed that Real Madrid would refuse to play future games that kick off less than 72 hours after their previous outing, citing the need for adequate rest and recovery time for his players. The Spanish Footballers’ Association also weighed in on the issue, stating that players require at least 72 hours of rest between games.
However, La Liga president Javier Tebas disputed Ancelotti’s claims, alleging that Real Madrid had not made any formal requests to change the scheduling of the Villarreal game before the schedule was confirmed. Tebas also pointed out that Real Madrid had requested a change in the kickoff time for their upcoming game against Leganes, which would actually reduce the rest period between games.
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Tebas took to social media to express his views, posting a message on X that seemed to imply that Ancelotti was being hypocritical. Tebas wrote, “Carlo, surely Emilio will have told you that La Liga had put the game with Leganes on Saturday at 16:15 to give you more rest before the semi-final against Real Sociedad.”
Ancelotti’s response to Tebas’ comments was not immediately available, but it is clear that the debate over Real Madrid’s scheduling controversy is far from over. The issue has sparked a wider discussion about the demands of modern football and the need for adequate rest and recovery time for players.
La Liga’s scheduling has been a subject of controversy in recent years, with many teams complaining about the congested fixture list and the lack of rest time between games. The issue is particularly acute for teams like Real Madrid, which compete in multiple competitions and have to navigate a demanding schedule.
