Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti addressed the recent on-field altercation between his team and Mallorca’s players, describing it as an “unnecessary” incident.
Following Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory in the Spanish Supercopa semifinal held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tensions escalated.
The scoring began with Jude Bellingham netting a goal in the 63rd minute, followed by a late own goal from Mallorca defender Martin Valjent, and capped off with a last-minute goal from Rodrygo Goes, securing Los Blancos a spot in the final.
After Rodrygo’s goal, a confrontation occurred, notably involving Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo and Bellingham, along with substitute Raúl Asencio. Ancelotti stepped onto the pitch to help diffuse the situation.
“I tried to calm things down a bit with Maffeo,” Ancelotti shared with Movistar. “I wanted to help bring the situation to a close. While there were certainly heightened emotions, ultimately, nothing significant occurred.”
He further emphasized during the post-match press conference that the scuffle was unnecessary. “The match was concluded, and I hold no blame towards my players or those from Mallorca—it was simply an avoidable moment for both sides”, the coach said.
Looking ahead, Ancelotti expressed optimism about the upcoming Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, predicting it will be an engaging match.
Having led his team past Mallorca with contributions from Bellingham and others, the Italian tactician reflected on the rivalry and the unpredictability of El Clásico.
“In recent encounters, Clásico matches have shown to be quite unpredictable,” Ancelotti noted. “There have been instances of easy victories as well as surprising defeats. While it’s hard to predict the dynamics of the final, I’m confident it will be entertaining given the abundance of talent on the pitch. Our goal is to perform at our best against Barcelona.”
