Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after the team’s 1-0 loss to Espanyol in the league on Saturday. Ancelotti, in what was a very brief press conference, was asked primarily about his deduction on the foul by goalscorer Carlos Romero on Kylian Mbappé, to which he said: “This foul is inexplicable, the decision taken by the referee and the VAR, everyone has seen it, the most important thing is to protect the player, it is a clear foul, a very ugly, dangerous tackle and fortunately nothing happened. The VAR is there for this. We find it inexplicable that he did not show the red card.”

Ancelotti on the game

“Well… Espanyol played a good game, they defended very well, they tried to make transitions, which is what they had to do. The game wasn’t as bad as the result suggests, which can sometimes happen. We had opportunities, the team was balanced, we’re still in the fight and we have to look to the next game.”

Ancelotti on Rudiger

”He has had a muscle injury, they will have to assess it.”

Ancelotti on not signing centre-backs

I can’t answer that, we have talked about it, we have thought about it and we know perfectly well what we have to do.”

Ancelotti on the ‘war with referees’

“I don’t want to talk about this subject. I’m referring to what happened today in the match, it seemed inexplicable to me, everyone saw it.”

Ancelotti on what the referee told him for the goal that was overturned

“The referee said it was a foul by Mbappé.”