Carlo Ancelotti talks Bellingham red card, referee’s performance and Vinicius after Osasuna 1-1 Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid dropped two crucial points in their La Liga campaign after a controversial 1-1 draw against Osasuna at El Sadar.

Kylian Mbappé gave Los Blancos an early lead, but the match took a dramatic turn when Jude Bellingham received a red card just before halftime for allegedly protesting a referee’s decision.

Osasuna capitalized on the numerical advantage, equalizing through an Ante Budimir penalty in the second half.

After the match, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media, and as expected, the refereeing decisions dominated the discussion. The Italian manager did not hold back his thoughts.

Ancelotti on the Referee’s Performance

Ancelotti expressed his frustration over the officiating but was careful with his words.

“I want to stay on the bench. It was a game in terms of football, we started very well and finished well with one less player. I think that the referee did not understand the English well when Bellingham was given a red card,” Ancelotti said (h/t Diario AS).

Explaining the nuances, the Italian added, “He said ‘f*** off’, he did not say ‘f*** you’. He made a mistake there because the translation in Spanish is ‘don’t f*** with me’, it was not something offensive.

Bellingham’s red card was the turning point of the game. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“Things have happened in these last three games that everyone has seen and I don’t feel like adding more, because I want to be on the bench in the next game.”

The dismissal of Bellingham left Madrid battling with ten men for more than half the match, and it was clear that Ancelotti felt it was an unjust decision.

Ancelotti also hinted at a pattern in Madrid’s recent games where controversial decisions have gone against them.

“I think there is a problem in that sense, in the last three games something has happened that shouldn’t have happened. What we can do is keep playing, winning, and continue like this,” he said.

Ancelotti himself received a yellow card early in the game for his protests over what he believed was a handball inside the Osasuna box.

He later explained his reaction: “I told him that there was a handball in the Osasuna area and that he should have seen it on the VAR. The images were turned on minutes later…”

Ancelotti on Bellingham

Despite Bellingham’s sending-off, Ancelotti did not believe the player was at fault and instead pointed fingers at the referee.

“I would be in favour of speaking to the referee and not Bellingham. Jude made a protest and said just don’t f*** with me. The red card is for the referee being nervous.

“I don’t have to say anything to Bellingham. Jude didn’t do anything today to be sent off, the referee made a mistake in the translation,” he said when asked about the Englishman’s conduct.

With Bellingham now set to miss Madrid’s next league game, the controversy surrounding his suspension will likely continue to be a major talking point in the next few days.

Ancelotti on the abuse aimed at Vinicius and Asensio

Another concerning issue raised was the treatment of Vinicius Jr. and Marco Asensio by Osasuna supporters. Madrid’s Brazilian winger has often been a target of abuse in Spanish stadiums, and this match was no exception.

Vinicius was once again a subject of abuse from opposition fans (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

When asked about it, Ancelotti kept his response brief: “I think there is an organization that is looking after this. I was focused on what was happening in the match.”

Title race and the road ahead

Ancelotti was pleased with how his team played, particularly given the adversity they faced.

“I thought the three up front were doing very well. Camavinga was playing very well at the back. I didn’t want to change the dynamic of the team, because they were playing very well, with a lot of verticality. It’s a shame, but we’re still in the fight,” he said.

The defeat for Real Madrid does, however, mean that Barcelona will have an opportunity to get back on top of the league table, should they win their next league encounter.