Real Madrid faced a tough night on Tuesday as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League. The loss not only dented their European campaign but also stirred up some off-field controversy, with Federico Valverde’s wife, Mina Bonino, openly criticizing manager Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical decisions.
Real Madrid Star’s Wife Slams Ancelotti’s Decisions During AC Milan Match
Malick Thiaw gave AC Milan an early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Vinicius Junior quickly leveled the score from the penalty spot.
However, goals from Alvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders secured a resounding victory for the visiting Milan side. The defeat left Real Madrid in a precarious position within the play-off spots in their Champions League group.
Ancelotti’s decision to deploy Valverde on the right wing, instead of his preferred central midfield role, drew the ire of Bonino. Known for her candidness on social media, she didn’t hold back her frustrations.
Responding to a fan on X, Bonino remarked, “Fede plays best as a midfielder. What are you talking about? When are they going to understand once and for all that Fede isn’t a winger?”
Valverde’s substitution at half-time, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, who had also been struggling with fitness issues and faced jeers from the home crowd, only added to the discontent.
Bonino further defended her husband when another fan criticized his involvement in one of Milan’s goals, pointing out that Valverde was out of position:
“He’s playing as a winger. Did you know? Because I never see forwards being reproached for not dropping back, but the idiot who is everywhere is.”
Ancelotti, when questioned about Bonino’s comments after the match, explained, “From what people think on social media… for me it’s very complicated. I took him off because for me he wasn’t 100 percent; he had back problems.
It seemed like he had recovered because he trained well yesterday but it seemed like he wasn’t at his best physical level, that’s why I changed him.”
The defeat has left Real Madrid with significant ground to cover as they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield in their next Champions League fixture on November 27. Ancelotti acknowledged the team’s struggles, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility.
“The team is not playing its best and we are all to blame. It is very important that we all take responsibility,” he said.
“Because just as when we win, we all do it, when we have to suffer and fight, we do it too. We gain strength from situations like this.”
Amidst growing criticism, Ancelotti remained optimistic about the team’s future.
“We have to accept the reality that we are not doing well now and we have to do better. Because it is very difficult to get to the end of the season like this. We have to fix things, I repeat, we have to defend better because that is the key.”
The path forward for Real Madrid involves tactical adjustments and improved team cohesion without drastic changes. “There may be some solutions in tactical details but without going crazy making changes.
Of course, we need to improve tactically. As I said, the problem is not an individual one. Defensive work is about sacrifice, concentration, and collective effort,” Ancelotti concluded.
As Real Madrid regroups and looks ahead, the spotlight remains on how Ancelotti will navigate these turbulent times, both on and off the pitch.
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