Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League match against AC Milan, coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his reluctance to discuss football due to the tragic flooding in the Valencia region, which has claimed at least 217 lives.
Ancelotti’s sentiments reflect a broader concern among players and coaches regarding the appropriateness of continuing football amid such devastating circumstances.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated on Monday that he finds it difficult to focus on football as his team prepares for their Champions League clash against AC Milan.
This comes in light of the catastrophic floods in the Valencia region of Spain, which have resulted in at least 217 deaths and left many missing.
The club’s La Liga match against Valencia was postponed due to the natural disaster.
Ancelotti, who has a rich history with Milan, having won the Champions League four times as a player and coach, acknowledged the weight of the situation during a press conference.
“I hope (the situation) can be resolved quickly, and I hope you can understand that talking about football is very hard,” he said. “We are part of this country, and all this affects us. I don’t feel like talking about football.”
The coach criticized the decision to allow La Liga matches to proceed over the weekend, emphasizing that football should have paused in light of the tragedy.
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“Nobody wanted to play; that seemed the right decision to me, but it’s not us in charge.
Those above us make the decision,” he added.
Defender Lucas Vazquez echoed Ancelotti’s sentiments, expressing solidarity with those affected by the floods.
“They are not alone, and we will help with everything that we can. We feel proud of the solidarity of the people who are helping,” he stated.
While he acknowledged the need to fulfill professional obligations, he expressed a desire for things to return to normal.
Real Madrid’s last outing resulted in a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona, and they now face Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu, a game that Ancelotti hopes will provide a brief distraction from the ongoing crisis.