Ancelotti wants Madrid response against Osasuna
Carlo Ancelotti demanded a reaction from his Real Madrid players when they return to LaLiga action this weekend after defeat to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
Ancelotti watched on as his side was well beaten at Santiago Bernabeu by the Serie A side, with Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders on target for the visitors.
The result followed a humiliating 4-0 defeat to rival Barcelona in the Clasico, with Ancelotti losing consecutive home games for the first time as Los Blancos' head coach.
Madrid is already nine points behind Hansi Flick's side at the summit of LaLiga, but it has played a game less after its game away to Valencia was postponed last weekend.
It welcomes Osasuna to the Spanish capital on Sunday (AEDT) – the only team to have beaten Barcelona in LaLiga so far this season – and Ancelotti is looking for a response from his side to get its season back on track.
"Osasuna are doing very well, playing brave football and well positioned in the table," Ancelotti said.
"We see tomorrow as a great opportunity to get back to doing things right... at this moment in time, which is obviously difficult. We have a chance to get back to our best.
"We have analysed the situation. We think we have found the solution, but it has to be seen in practice. We want to see a different version tomorrow.
"I see the team united, motivated and aware. But we have to wait until tomorrow to see if we act in the right way."
The Madrid boss has reason to be confident heading into the game, having not lost in his eight LaLiga fixtures against Osasuna.
Only against Real Betis has Ancelotti gone more games without defeat in the competition – eight, also against Elche, Granada and Almeria.
Ancelotti was, however, positive that Kylian Mbappe would return to his best form, having scored just once in his past six games in all competitions.
Mbappe was also left out of France's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy later this month, although Ancelotti believes this weekend's fixture provides an opportunity for his striker to silence the doubters.
"He's training well, he's going through a difficult moment... like each one of us," Ancelotti said.
"And like all of us, he has to think that this is an opportunity, that if he is clever he can get through it, but it requires more concentration and attitude.
"This is a strong, motivated group and the biggest club in the world. This is the best place to get through difficult times. And I am convinced that we will," he added.
