Ancelotti: Real Madrid 'Alive and Will Fight Until the End' Amid Criticism

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has responded to criticism following the team's recent poor performances, insisting he still has the club's full backing.

Real Madrid defender David Alaba is poised to make a long-awaited return to action, with manager Carlo Ancelotti confirming that the 32-year-old could feature in Sunday's LaLiga clash against Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu. Alaba has been sidelined for over 13 months, having suffered a devastating knee injury in December 2023.

The Austria international's injury woes began when he ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his left knee during a league game. The severity of the injury necessitated surgery, and Alaba underwent further knee surgery in May 2024. After a prolonged rehabilitation period, Alaba is now on the cusp of making a remarkable comeback to competitive football.

Real Madrid center-back David Alaba is set to make his long-awaited return to the squad after a 13-month injury layoff. Since joining the club from Bayern Munich in July 2021, Alaba has made 102 appearances, scoring five goals and providing nine assists. Manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Alaba's readiness to return, stating that he played 40 minutes in a recent training session with a “good feeling” and no issues with his knee.

Ancelotti revealed that Alaba will not start Sunday's match against Las Palmas but is likely to make an appearance off the bench. This will be a welcome boost for Real Madrid, whose backline has been depleted by injuries to Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, both of whom are sidelined with ACL injuries. However, the squad will be without talisman Vinicius Jr, who is suspended after receiving a red card in Real's 2-1 win at Valencia in their last league match.

Defending league champions Real Madrid currently sit second in the table with 43 points. Despite their strong position, manager Carlo Ancelotti has faced criticism following the team's humiliating 5-2 defeat to rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup last week in Saudi Arabia. As Ancelotti looks to bounce back from that setback, Alaba's return to the squad will be a timely boost for the team.

🎙️ @MrAncelotti 🎙️
📺 Rueda de prensa ➡️ #RMPlay#RealMadridLasPalmas

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 18, 2025

Real Madrid's recent performances have been underwhelming, with the team's 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup followed by a labored extra-time win over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey round-of-16 clash. The latter match saw the team receive boos from the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite the criticism, manager Carlo Ancelotti remains confident that he has the club's full backing.

Ancelotti acknowledged that he is not immune to criticism, stating, “This team is alive and will fight until the end. I'm not hurt by being questioned; it's part of my job. I feel just as supported by the club as ever.” The 65-year-old Italian coach emphasized his commitment to self-improvement, saying, “If you think you know everything - which isn’t my case - you stop learning and lose your edge. I need to improve in many areas. There are times when we don't play well, and that's on me.”

Ancelotti took responsibility for the team's poor performance against Barcelona, stating, “The match against Barcelona was my responsibility, and it’s fair and justified for the fans to criticise me...” However, he also expressed gratitude for the fans' continued support, noting, “...but the fans haven’t forgotten what we have achieved.” Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their recent setbacks when they host RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday.