Ancelotti: Real Madrid don't need rotation

The coach says the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos are fine playing regularly and hopes to make amends to supporters by returning to winning ways in La Liga


Carlo Ancelotti has stressed that Real Madrid are not suffering from fatigue and says he will not be pressured into unnecessary rotation.

The European champions were dumped out of the Copa del Rey at the last 16 stage by local rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday, having lost 4-2 on aggregate, leaving them fighting on two fronts for the remainder of 2014-15.

Madrid have triumphed in only one of their last four games – having previously won 22 matches in a row in all competitions – but Ancelotti is adamant that his first-choice  XI does not need mixing up.

“There is no need right now to do rotations, I think the team are fine,” the Italian told reporters on Saturday.

“The problem is not fatigue and regarding injuries we just have Pepe, who took a blow to the ribs against Atletico, and Modric out. The rest are just fine.

“The team is doing well physically. There are some players who must get better though. Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos have played more than anyone, because they are important, they are fine physically.”

Ancelotti was apologetic about being knocked out of the Copa del Rey – a competition he won with Madrid last season – but the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach has set his sights on bouncing back in La Liga and, subsequently, Europe.

“We have paid for some errors that have not allowed us to progress in the cup,” the coach continued. “We’re sorry because it was a goal for the club.

“Last year we won it and we’re sorry. But we have to look forward. We are in two competitions. We have a month to strengthen our position in the league, try to get more points against our rivals and then also we have the Champions League.”

Real Madrid travel to Getafe on Sunday, with kick-off in the Liga clash at 12:00CET.

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