VILA-REAL, Spain: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday his team will not play another football game after fewer than 72 hours of rest.
Los Blancos beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League on penalties and then earned a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 1630 GMT.
鈥淚 think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours (of rest),鈥� Ancelotti told reporters.
鈥淲e will never play another game (without) 72 hours of rest.
鈥淲e asked La Liga twice to change the time of the game and they did not do anything, this is the last time.鈥�
World football governing body FIFA recommends at least 72 hours between matches in order to protect the health of the players.
French striker Kylian Mbappe struck twice for Madrid against Villarreal to take them top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona鈥檚 game at Atletico on Sunday.
鈥淚 am very proud of this team,鈥� continued Ancelotti.
鈥淚t was a potential banana skin, above all for what has happened, the (few) hours of rest, and the strength of the opponent.鈥�
Ancelotti has regularly complained about the packed football calendar, with Madrid one of the clubs who will also be involved at the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
鈥淓veryone saw the game against Atletico, 120 minutes, a very intense match, it鈥檚 hard to play after two days... but we have to respect the club badge and fight until the end, and we did that today and we were able to win,鈥� Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the scheduling of the game was disrespectful to Madrid.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to look for excuses, I鈥檓 happy to say we did not lose or draw because of the tiredness, but it鈥檚 not normal playing (at this time) today,鈥� said Courtois.
鈥淚 know La Liga don鈥檛 like to put (the three biggest teams) on the same day, but sometimes it鈥檚 what you have to do... it was a lack of respect to the team and our players, because we could have left here with someone injured.
鈥淭omorrow is Atletico against Barca and that鈥檚 not a problem, it could be a 鈥楽uper Sunday鈥� with Madrid playing first.鈥�