Ancelotti on Marcelo, Hazard and Asensio: "I told them I'm sorry, I didn't want to make the changes"

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed that he apologised in the dressing room to Marcelo, Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio, who spent the second half of the game against Shakhtar warming up on the sidelines and none of them played.

"Getting angry is normal, it's the right way to handle this situation," the Italian said of the situation at the Santiago Bernabeu after making just two changes to bring on Nacho Fernandez and Serbia's Luka Jovic.

"I understand well what a player who hasn't played after warming up for 40 minutes and doesn't come on thinks. I've told the players that I'm sorry, but I didn't want to make any changes. Marcelo has won a lot of Champions League titles, but it's my job and this is an ugly aspect," he said.

Despite the Champions League clash, Ancelotti said Hazard is ready to play again: "I think he is ready to play, it could be on Saturday. I thought about putting him on, but I preferred to use a winger to open up the pitch more.

 

November 3, 2021