Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said criticism of his team was well deserved after their long unbeaten run came to an end in a 1-0 defeat against Lille in France in the Champions League on Wednesday. "I am very honest.
Criticism of us for today's game is fair and correct and we have to accept it. We did not play well in this game," Ancelotti said after Jonathan David's penalty just before half-time gave Lille the victory they merited.
It was Real's first defeat in 37 games in all competitions since January and their first in the Champions League since losing to Manchester City in the semi-finals in May 2023. "This has not happened to us much recently luckily.
Our opponents played better than us and deserved to win," added Ancelotti, whose team beat Borussia Dortmund in last season's final. "We had chances at the end but we wouldn't have deserved (a draw).