Ancelotti: More Confident in European Refereeing

In a pre-match press conference before Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti shared his thoughts on various topics, including refereeing standards and team updates.

Ancelotti expressed greater confidence in European referees compared to their Spanish counterparts. He stated, “Statistics speak for themselves. There’s less controversy and fewer VAR interventions in Europe, which only occur when necessary. The Champions League features each country’s top referees, ensuring high-quality officiating.”

Regarding recent controversial decisions in La Liga, Ancelotti remarked, “We’ve been disadvantaged in three matches – against Osasuna, Atletico, and another – by decisions we still don’t understand. It’s quite surprising.” However, he refrained from commenting on whether the league was compromised.

The Italian coach also shared his reservations about VAR, saying, “VAR has significantly reduced referee responsibility. It’s meant to correct obvious errors, not intervene in natural aspects of football. Many fouls, like those on Le Normand, Tchouameni, and Camavinga, are part of the game. It’s difficult to understand some of these penalty decisions.”

Discussing the upcoming Manchester City match, Ancelotti emphasized the psychological aspect: “We can’t pretend the 3-2 score doesn’t exist, but we can adjust our approach. We need to avoid calculations and remember we have an advantage.”

On team news, Ancelotti confirmed Rüdiger’s availability and mentioned potential defensive adjustments: “Rüdiger can start, Tchouameni could play as a pivot, and Asensio might be used as a center-back. We’re assessing Valverde’s condition after the Osasuna match. Raúl could also play right-back.” However, Lucas Vázquez is not yet fully recovered and will be on the bench.