Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti Attacks ‘Unprofessional’ FC Barcelona Xavi

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti fired back at FC Barcelona rival Xavi Hernandez during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s derby meeting with Atletico Madrid.

In his own appearance before the media to preview a Saturday showdown with Alaves, Xavi agreed with his president Joan Laporta “100%” that footballing competition is ‘adulterated’ in Spain.

“It’s a reality and we can’t fool the Barca fans,” Xavi insisted.

“I’m not the president of the federation or the president of La Liga. [But] I am very surprised that we accept all this. They completely adulterate the competition, week after week. A blind man can see it. [Atletico Marid manager Diego] ‘Cholo’ Simeone said that we are not fools. Of course we see it, everyone sees it. But it’s up to the media to say it,” Xavi vented.

Pushed to provide comment on these remarks on Saturday, Ancelotti said: “I am a professional and, as a professional, I do not want to go down to this level out of respect for Spanish football. It is not a level for a professional.”

Ancelotti stated that this moment of the season is “key” considering the derby and a top of the table clash to play against Girona on February 10, but he did not want to call it “decisive”.

“It is an important week, but not decisive,” he said.

“They are important league games before resuming the Champions League. We have to take advantage of the fact that we play two games in a row at home to score points.”

On whether the Madrid derby is better than El Clasico at present, with two recent thrilling showcases in the Super Cup and Copa del Rey enjoyed by fans worldwide in January, Ancelotti answered: “They are intense games, with a lot of pressure, but similar. Atletico and Barca have individual quality, good organization… The level of both games, in general, is very high.”

Paying respect to the Argentine, Ancelotti called Diego Simeone “one of the most difficult” coaches he has faced.

By coming out on top at the Bernabeu, Madrid can keep a 10-point gap between themselves and Barca at the summit providing the Catalans beat Alaves in the Basque region.