Sevilla vs Real Madrid discussion

Carlo Ancelotti previewed his side's game against Sevilla in front of the press. The Italian analysed the league encounter at the Sánchez Pizjuán: "The side were fine before the Clásico and they still are. This is one of the best sides in the world and we will continue to show it until the end of the season. The game against Sevilla is important and dangerous because the opponents are playing well, and will be spurred on following the European derby, but we have a good chance to come back strongly and with spirits high, because there's no time to reflect on what happened".

“We are trying to forget the Clásico and prepare well for the game against Sevilla. The side trained well today and the mood is good. We have quality and we are conscious of the importance of this game. We are going to try and win because it's more important to think in the game that you are going to play, rather than the one you just played. In the Clásico we made small mistakes, but we played well. We had the chance to win it. We didn't come off the field happy, but our spirit is good".

Self-criticism post Clásico
"We have done, as always. If you want to improve you must analyse errors. They were small details that resulted in the loss, but in general we played a good game. It is not a question of looking for those responsible or pointing the finger for the loss".
“It game following 31 undefeated games and we must now look forward. We are fighting in all competitions and in the league we have the same points at Atlético and one more than Barcelona. It is more important to look at the next games".

Games against Atlético and Barcelona
“I'm not pleased because we have a very competitive side and we didn't do well, but the league table speaks for itself. We are still at the top and no more. It is hard to explain what's happened".
“THE DETERMINATION AND CONCENTRATION HAVE TO BE AT THE MAX AGAINST SEVILLA" .
“Only in one game we didn't compete well. It was against Atlético at home, and we deserved to lose, and one half against Barcelona in the Camp Nou. The last two were even ties. We must be objective".

Comments post-Clásico
“Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos didn't disrespect anyone. They expressed their opinion and I understand that. I prefer not to think only about referees who get things wrong and no more. We didn't have any luck, especially in Ramos' case. We will try to get the decision reversed and hopefully the Committee will revoke the unjust card. We didn't have a lot of luck with this referee in other games either".

The referee for the final of the Copa
“It's not my place to talk about that. There's a Committee, and they designate these things, and it's not my place to talk about it. It doesn't matter to me if Undiano referees. I have an opinion about referees and here it is more difficult, like in Italy because they can't work freely and this harms them in games. It doesn't matter to me if we are harmed more or less".

Di María's absence and Benzema's performance
“We can replace Di María with Illarra or Isco. It is a decision we'll take tomorrow. Benzema is fine. He played brilliantly against Barcelona and understood the reason for the change perfectly".

The stamp by Busquets on Pepe
“I just think that if it was the other way round I don't know what would have happened. After all I have heard about Pepe... if it was the other way round I don't know what would have happened. Real Madrid won't report it because it's not our style".

Solutions to the right back slot
“Sergio Ramos and even Nacho could play if Carvajal is injured for the end of the season".

Real Madrid centre-back, Sergio Ramos will not feature in Wednesday evening’s La Liga clash against his former club, Sevilla, after the RFEF Appeals Committee ratified the decision of the Competition Committee to uphold the one-match ban the Spanish international received after being booked for a red card in last Sunday’s El Clasico loss to Barcelona.

The Committee stated that they supported referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco’s decision to book Ramos for a foul on Neymar in the penalty area.

“The videographic evidence does not disprove the exsistence of contact between the appealant (Ramos) and his opponent (Neymar).”

The report goes on to add that there are no grounds to suspend the ban or rescind the red card and Ramos will be fined €600 euros and Real Madrid €350.

Real Madrid immediately took the case to the Spanish Sport Ministry’s Administrative Court (TAD) to try and allow Ramos to play, but the likelihood that TAD President Enrique Arnaldo will call an emergency meeting to discuss the matter and come to a ruling before kick-off are very slim.

Brazilian defender Marcelo could only offer apologies to the Real Madrid fans, following their defeat at Sevilla. The second in a row, after losing El Clásico against Barcelona.

Speaking with Canal Plus after the final whistle ended their game at Sevilla with defeat, Real Madrid defender Marcelo underlined that his team knows what’s at stake, but offered his apologies to the fans, on behalf of the team.

“We knew the end of the season was going to be tough. Every game is like a final. We have to fight and keep fighting and apologise to the fans of Real Madrid.”

Feeling that his team had more than enough opportunities to get a better result against Sevilla, Marcelo continued with his apologies.

“We’ve created chances. We couldn’t take advantage of them, but that’s football. Apologies to our fans and we’ll keep on working hard.”

A second defeat on the back of losing El Clásico against Barcelona at the weekend, Marcelo admitted that it’s a blow for their morale, but insisted that they must keep fighting for the title.

“Every game is a final now. We’ve suffered psychologically, but we can’t stop working to put Real Madrid where they should be.”

Trying to find words to account for why the team had lost against Sevilla, was practically impossible for Marcelo.

“It’s difficult to explain what we’ve done, after so many consecutive wins. We’ve lost two crucial games. Now that makes everything all the more difficult.”

Carlo Ancelotti stated after the game: “I don't think the defeat affected us. Before everything was going well and now we have arrived here. Now we need to react with everyone's character and personality. The league is more complicated and all the matches will be important”.

“I don't think we deserved to lose. On the one hand we could have because we didn't prepare well for Sevilla's counter-attacks and that is how they scored both goals. We took the lead and could have scored more goals. Then they scored two goals in the same way when we needed more balance”.

THE FIRST HALF WAS GOOD, WITH A LOT OF CHANCES, BUT WE WERE NOT CLINICAL ENOUGH.
“Alonso is not at fault, he miscontrolled the ball, but we have to cover his back and we didn't. That is where both goals came from. Cristiano Ronaldo was annoyed because we were losing the match, nothing more. Now La Liga is more complicated because we are behind. It's more complicated but not impossible”.

Matches against big teams
“It's not a problem. The team has lost against smaller teams. La Liga is complicated and it has strong teams and every match is difficult. We have to think about ourselves. We lost two matches but we have to believe we can win it. We are behind but we have to believe it is possible”.

Gareth Bale was predictably made to carry the can for Real Madrid’s defeat last night with the image of him doing up his laces as Sevilla scored the winner plastered over every single sports page.

Diario AS detailed the minute-by-minute of his decision to change his boots midway through the second half as Sevilla attacked down his right flank and scored the goal that could end up losing Real Madrid the title.

On 70 minutes 34 seconds Bale took advantage of a Sevilla substitution to change footwear but he was still on the sidelines on 71 minutes 53 seconds when Carlos Bacca scored. The ill-timed pit-stop did not finish until 72 minutes 30 seconds when Bales came back on with the game out of Real Madrid’s control.

The rollicking Bale received from Cristiano Ronaldo was also covered in detail as the Madrid press carried out the inquest on the first time in five years that they had lost two consecutive matches in the league.

Xabi Alsono tried to play down the incident saying: 'All the players were upset with themselves for the defeat.' But Ronaldo’s anger is clearly directed at Bale as he blasts a late free-kick off target with Ronaldo feeling he should have taken the kick.

'He comes from the cradle of rugby - perhaps that is why he puts so many over the bar,” sniped Diario AS’ resident critic Tomas Roncero.

It is customary for Bale and Ronaldo to share free-kick taking duties and on the night both had been woefully off target. Ronaldo had scored from a first half set-piece but only because the ball hit Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca on the arm to divert it past Beto in the Sevilla goal.

Diaro AS rounded off its savage criticism of Bale saying: 'He did not respond to the importance of the game. He made the wrong decisions even upsetting Ronaldo.'

Marca went slightly easier on Bale saying he had not been the only player out of position when Sevilla scored. But elsewhere he was slated and given a five out of 10 rating alongside the comment: 'It seems he plays better when he has injury problems.'

Madrid’s embarrassment was made complete by the fact that their misfiring 250m euros forward line, had been outdone by Carlos Bacca, a former bus conductor who cost 8m in the summer.