Warning from Carlo Ancelotti: This is the final straw with La Liga's scheduling

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti made a strong statement on Saturday, stating that his team will not play another football game with less than 72 hours of rest. This decision comes after Los Blancos played two tough matches in a short span of time, beating Atletico Madrid in the Champions League before securing a 2-1 victory against Villarreal. Ancelotti expressed his frustration with the scheduling, saying that they had requested La Liga to change the time of the game but were not accommodated. Moving forward, he emphasized that they will not accept playing under such conditions again.

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's game at Atletico on Sunday.

"I am very proud of this team," continued Ancelotti.

"It was a potential banana skin, above all for what has happened, the (few) hours of rest, and the strength of the opponent."

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.

"Everyone saw the game against Atletico, 120 minutes, a very intense match, it's 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," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.

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Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the scheduling of the game was disrespectful to Madrid.

"We don't want to look for excuses, I'm happy to say we did not lose or draw because of the tiredness, but it's not normal playing (at this time) today," said Courtois.

"I know La Liga don't like to put (the three biggest teams) on the same day, but sometimes it's 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.

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"Tomorrow is Atletico against Barca and that's not a problem, it could be a 'Super Sunday' with Madrid playing first."

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)