Real Madrid’s Girona rout a ‘big blow’ in title race – Ancelotti

Girona Coach Míchel admitted that his team “is not in real Madrid‘s league’ after Madrid beat them 4-0 on Saturday in a result that Carlo Ancelotti called “a big blow for the LaLiga title.”

Vinícius Junior opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabéu and Judas Bellingham grabbed a brace, before being replaced due to an ankle problem, with Rodrygo goes 4-0, which leaves leader Madrid five points ahead of Girona at the top of the table.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)

“We try to cope with them, but when Madrid are at their best, we can’t get there,” Michel said in his post-match press conference. “The players gave everything, but [Madrid] They were superior in duels. the games of [Eduardo] Camavinga, Vinícius, Bellingham… We are not at that level.”

“We are a club that is growing,” Michel said. “There are only four or five teams in the world that can fight with Real Madrid. When they play like today, it is difficult to stop them.

“Valencia, [Real] Betis, that is our league. We are not in the Real Madrid league. They took points from us Barcelonabut they’re not in our league, Atletico Madrid They are not in our league. We will continue working with humility. “I think we are candidates to be in Europe.”

Míchel, who has turned Girona into a surprise contender this season ahead of more established rivals such as Barca, admitted that Madrid were now likely to finish the campaign as champions.

“Anything can happen in a match, but today I had the feeling that Madrid is very strong and if they continue at that level it will be difficult for them to lose points,” he said. “Today at no time did you have the feeling that we could win… Our level is not that of Real Madrid. We have been in a dream and we are still in a dream.”

“It’s a hard blow for the LaLiga title,” said Madrid coach Ancelotti. “Girona is a very good team. They had not lost away from home… We are well placed, we have done well so far. We have an advantage but it is just that, a small advantage.”

Madrid’s night was soured by concerns over Bellingham, who has already scored 16 league goals this season, ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 first leg against RB Leipzig.

“Bellingham sprained his ankle,” Ancelotti said. “He will be evaluated tomorrow. Hopefully he will be available for Tuesday… There are games that Bellingham has not played and others have done well, like Brahim.” [Diaz]. I couldn’t be more worried than today. “Today we had four center backs injured and we did well.”