Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid were livid with the refereeing decisions in the team’s recent clash against Alaves for all right reasons.
Los Blancos were shown four yellow cards on the night despite clocking just seven fouls while their opponents saw no punishment for ten fouls. The differentiating factor between the two was that Real Madrid merited most sanctions for active protests.
Carlo Ancelotti is aware that protesting and contesting the referee’s decision is a natural part of the game, but La Liga’s strict regulations mean that the team must tread a safe path.
As revealed by MARCA, the coach has thus given the dressing room strong instructions ahead of the all-important Madrid derby.
No protests
The Spanish outlet forwards that Ancelotti has strictly commanded his team not to repeat the situation that unfolded against Alaves earlier this week at any cost.
His instruction, in many ways, was received as a strict prohibition of protesting to the entire team for the constant distractions and sanctions only serve to unsettle the team and lose control of the game.
Ancelotti thus demands that his players play the derby with all attention only on the 90 minutes of action, paying no heed to the refereeing decisions on the night.
With Real Madrid already being heavily targeted in terms of yellow cards, they cannot afford to see any player sent off at Civitas Metropolitano.
The coach’s strict instruction not only serves against verbal protests but also any gestures of dissent or disappointment for the team has seen several bookings for such instances as well. Moreover, he agrees that his team did cross the line on occasion.
Needless to say, Vinicius Jr. will be the player most affected by the manager’s new rule given how expressive he is on the field and how he does not hesitate to fly into clashes.
The environment at Civitas Metropolitano and rumours of targeted chants against the player, moreover, only make the situation more complicated.
A special spotlight will be on Jude Bellingham as well for the Englishman has been on the referee’s bad books for a long time now. After all, match officials are of the idea that he protests a little too much.