Ancelotti once again voices concerns over fixture calendar – ‘Puts several players at risk…’ | OneFootball

After airing his concerns about the congested fixture schedule this past weekend, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has once again voiced his frustration on the matter.

The Real Madrid coach’s remarks while he was accepting the Premio Internazionale Tommaso Maestrelli, an award he had previously won in the early 2000s as the best coach in Serie A during his time with Juventus.

This time, he received the honour as Real Madrid’s head coach.

Ancelotti voices concerns

Although Ancelotti did not attend the ceremony in person, he addressed the audience via videoconference from Madrid.

When asked about the final stretch of the season, he took the opportunity to criticise the fixture congestion.

“We have an endless run of matches ahead, with an extremely demanding schedule that puts several players at risk of injury. I believe the governing bodies must step in to manage it better,” he stated, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Ancelotti is frustrated by the fixture calendar. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Ancelotti was also asked about the possibility of returning to coach in Italy. “I will be back on Monday to receive another important award, the Panchina d’Oro, and after all, my passport is Italian…” he joked.

Not the first time

It is not the first time that Ancelotti has voiced his frustration over the match schedule this season.

Ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga game against Villarreal last week, the Italian tactician was extremely critical in his take on the fixture calendar and the toll it takes on players, lashing out at all stakeholders for prioritising money over footballers’ well-being.

“It’s simply about money, TV rights… not the recovery of the players. That’s what I think,” he had said.

Following the match vs Villarreal, which took place within less than three days of Real Madrid’s game against Atletico Madrid, the manager added:

“Today is the last time we’ll play a game with less than 72 hours of rest. If it happens again, Real Madrid won’t be there.”