Real Madrid to refuse to play matches with less than 72 hours rest
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal against Villarreal with Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham (Reuters)
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is fuming over La Liga forcing his team to play Villarreal just 66 hours after a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.
Ancelotti said that Real Madrid would no longer play matches with less than 72 hours of rest, citing FIFA recommendations.
Despite player exhaustion, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory against Villarreal, which Ancelotti said showcased the team's resilience and depth.
Ancelotti revealed that the club made two requests to La Liga for rescheduling, to ensure the FIFA-recommended 72-hour rest period, but they were denied.
He said the team had endured a relentless schedule since January 3.