Assistant Coach Davide Ancelotti Blames “Small Fouls” for Star’s Outburst Ahead of Crucial Arsenal Clash
Real Madrid scraped past relegation-battling Alavés 1-0 in a fiery LaLiga clash on Sunday, but the victory was overshadowed by Kylian Mbappé’s first-half red card after a reckless tackle.
The French superstar, usually known for his composure, lashed out at Alavés midfielder Antonio Blanco in the 40th minute, earning a straight red after VAR upgraded the referee’s initial yellow card. Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti admitted the dismissal was justified but suggested persistent fouling had provoked Mbappé’s rare moment of frustration.
“Kylian isn’t a violent player—he’s already apologized and knows he made a mistake,” Ancelotti said post-match. “But the accumulation of small fouls against him led to this reaction. I’m not excusing it, but that’s the context.”
Despite playing most of the game with 10 men, Madrid clung to their narrow lead thanks to Eduardo Camavinga’s stunning 34th-minute curler. Alavés fought back aggressively in the second half, outpossessing and outchancing the visitors, but Madrid’s defense held firm under pressure.
The hosts also finished with 10 men after Manu Sánchez’s dangerous foul on Vinícius Júnior earned him a late red, but the damage was already done for Alavés, who remain dangerously close to the drop zone.
With manager Carlo Ancelotti suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, his son Davide took charge and praised his team’s resilience ahead of Wednesday’s must-win Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal, where they trail 3-0.
“This win gives us confidence,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, and the red card made it harder, but we fought through. Now we focus on turning things around against Arsenal.”
For Madrid, the victory keeps their title charge on track, but Mbappé’s suspension and their upcoming European mountain to climb mean the celebrations will be short-lived.
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