Carlo Ancelotti has criticized Real Madrid’s defense and said he was “disappointed with the whole game”. Defeated 5–2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Two-time Super Cup winner Ancelotti hailed Kylian Mbappe’s performance as a positive after the striker scored a stunning opener in the fifth minute, but Barca held on. Lamin YamalRobert Lewandowski, Rafinha and Alejandro Balde put Jeddah 4-1 up at half-time.

“We should try to play football, because we didn’t do that in the first half,” Ancelotti told Movistar, via A.SWhen asked what he told his players at the interval.

“We took advantage of the long ball but that should be an option, not an idea. The idea was to play and we didn’t do that. I said we could lose, but not like the first half.

Madrid vs Barcelona

After Rafinha made it 4-1 in the 48th minute, Madrid were given a much-needed boost when Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was shown a straight red card eight minutes later for obstructing Mbappe.

Rodrigo’s reply from a 60th-minute free-kick capped the return of the European champions, with Barca avenging their 4-1 defeat in last season’s final.

“We have to look at the reality,” Ancelotti said. “We didn’t defend well. They scored very easily. We have not done well either collectively or individually.

“It makes us sad and disappointed. Our pain is with our fans. I don’t want to point fingers at anyone. They did not defend well at the back. The team was not compact.

“From the first minute to the last the game was not good. We were one man down and we couldn’t create any chances. I’m upset about the whole game.”

La Liga: Madrid fixtures

Reigning Spanish champions Madrid are five points clear of second-placed Barcelona LeagueA point further ahead with leaders Atlético Madrid.

The Champions League holders are at home to Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday (8.30pm) and host 14th-placed Las Palmas in the league on Sunday (3.15pm).

“There is still a lot of season left and we have to look forward,” Ancelotti said. “(We’ll) go home, think and prepare for Thursday’s game.”