Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that two headline members of his squad were not fully fit for the club’s meeting with Athletic Club on Sunday.
Real, of course, are fresh off a winning return to action on the back of the international break.
A brace on the part of Rodrygo proved enough to put the aforementioned Athletic to the sword by two goals to nil at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Los Blancos, in turn, have reestablished their considerable eight-point advantage over the chasing pack atop the La Liga table, with just eight games to play.
And yet, in taking to the pitch tonight, two of the club’s star performers, it has since been revealed, were far from full fitness.
The pair in question? Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde.
Bellingham and Valverde featured from the off against Athletic, with the former having notched an assist, on his way to seeing out the full 90 minutes.
After both were spotted training away from the group at Valdebebas following their respective returns from international duty this week, though, Carlo Ancelotti, post-match, went on to admit that neither of his engine room stars were operating at full capacity on Sunday:
“Jude Bellingham wasn’t 100% tonight because the two games with England cost him. Same with Fede Valverde.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
