Carlo Ancelotti claims Spanish press 'are taking too many shots at me' as Real Madrid boss fights to save job amid poor start to season

Real Madrid were looking to follow up their La Liga and Champions League double with a strong start to the season, however, that has not been the case for Ancelotti's side as they have struggled for form and balance in the side after Kylian Mbappe's introduction to the squad. The 15-time European champions are four points off Barcelona in the La Liga standings and sit in 24th in the Champions League league stage standings, which is the last place that will achieve qualification to the playoff stage.

Real Madrid's poor form has put into question whether Ancelotti is the right man to bring the club back into form as he has been unable to bring the required balance into the team, with cracks seeming to open up in the dressing room as well. The Italian coach has now criticized the Spanish press for their constant criticism and claimed that they take 'too many shots' at him.

Speaking to the media, Ancelotti said: “It’s normal because the team is not showing its best version, it’s criticism I have to accept, and as always happens in football, the manager is the one most responsible. That said, I think you are taking too many shots at me. Maybe you are tired of me. But I am not tired of this job. The criticism is acceptable, and I understand, also it’s worth noting that the stress can also be fuel for a reaction.”

Ancelotti was later asked whether some of those shots at him in the media were justified, to which he added: “Your shots? You’re the one taking shots? Because sometimes I read them. I don’t live in another world, I live in this world, and I read. I read the criticism sometimes, and I note the journalist but I am not able to connect the journalist’s name with their face, so I need the press to give me a list of their names and their faces,” he said laughing.

“As I said, when there is criticism, there has to be some truth behind it. Now if you’re asking me which shots annoy me most, some yes, some do annoy me. It affects, sometimes, your identity. Because I don’t mind when it’s I made a bad change, a bad line-up, that affects the professional side.

“But when it affects your identity, what you are, who you are, that’s what annoys me. It’s the difference between saying you’ve said something stupid, or you’re stupid. It’s different.”

The Real Madrid boss has agreed that there is cause for concern after the start that his side have had, however, the Italian has also claimed that there is no need to write off the season just yet. He added: "It’s normal, it’s not a funeral, we’re still in the fight. We have to have optimism that we can solve the problems that we have had. We have a good squad with quality. So we have to be optimists."