Ancelotti: Real Madrid players can't keep playing two games a week forever

Ancelotti's charges have been playing midweek games every week since the conclusion of the World Cup, and he has warned that it's simply too much to ask.

The Champions League is set to resume in two weeks, but first Los Blancos have to compete at the World Club Cup as well.

"We are not going to throw away competitions because we are very close," said Ancelotti.

"We are in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, the Round of 16 in the Champions League. This club does not throw away competitions and we don't want to throw away any game.

"Here it does not stop because La Liga want to get theirs, the Federation (RFEF) want theirs, UEFA want theirs, FIFA want to do their thing..."

"And we can't have rest days. We have to stop for a moment because if the players get tired, all of this is over.

"It's a great excitement to play all these competitions, but there is a limit. All of us together have to do something to avoid this."