Ancelotti slams "strange" Barcelona who "didn't deserve" to beat Real Madrid

03 March 2023 , 10:55

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Carlo Ancelotti criticised Barcelona's approach to the game (Image: ESPN)

Carlo Ancelotti has criticised Barcelona's tactics and claimed that they didn't deserve to beat his Real Madrid side 1-0 in a fiery Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.

An own-goal from Nacho midway through the first half gives Barca a slender advantage over their arch-enemies going into round two, as Xavi's team produced a superb defensive display to grind out a victory. Real Madrid dominated possession in the 102nd edition of El Clasico but failed to register a shot on target in a home game for the first time since 2010.

Xavi's decision to compromise his preferred brand of free-flowing football paid off and left opposite number Ancelotti feeling befuddled. "It's been a bit strange to see them play like this," the Italian boss said of Barcelona's conservative approach. "But they have been very solid, they have a collective commitment and they have closed all the lines very well.

"Having to attack them with crosses is not the best thing to do, as I said before. And they have led us to that."

Asked if Barca deserved the win, Ancelotti replied: "No, it's pretty obvious. There have hardly been any occasions [for them to score]. I think it's been one of our best games defensively all season."

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Xavi, meanwhile, was proud of the shift that his players put in but did see room for improvement. "I'm happy for the work [done], [the] solidity in defense, [how] we minimised Real Madrid in their stadium," the Barca manager declared. "The match was difficult. The victory is tremendous. [But] we weren't able to retain the ball, it was difficult for us to win duels in Madrid's half.

"We defended well without the ball. We fought well without the ball. People are supportive. I am satisfied, but we have to improve how we play with the ball; we cannot give dominance to the opposition. I'm satisfied with the result and not so much with the game."

Tensions boiled over during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg (Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Xavi went on to stress: "This is not the game we want. We want to create more scoring chances. There are times when the opponent can dominate you. The plan was different, to dominate in the opposition's half. To defend with the ball, but today we couldn't. We weren't neat with the ball, but Madrid didn't have clear chances. It's a very important win for us."

Barcelona return to La Liga action on Sunday when they host Valencia at Camp Nou. Xavi and Co. are seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, despite losing 1-0 to relegation-threatened Almeria last weekend. "We must continue. Now come Valencia," the Spanish tactician affirmed. "It's important to get the nine points in the next three games before the [international] break."

A trip to face Athletic Bilbao follows that match for Barca and then it's onto another El Clasico, this time in the league. The second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final between the two sides takes place at Camp Nou on Wednesday, April 5.

Nathan Ridley