Carlo Ancelotti insists Real Madrid will not play without minimum 72-hour rest between matches

Real Madrid have ramped up their criticism of the fixture schedule on Saturday, with manager Carlo Ancelotti declaring that the team will refuse to play future matches if players don't get at least 72 hours of rest between games.

Madrid's congested schedule began with a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg on Wednesday. The match started at 9 p.m. local time and went into extra time and penalties, concluding near midnight. Just three days later, they faced Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. local time.

Ancelotti voiced his concerns about the tight scheduling on Friday, attributing the issue to "television rights and money" while lamenting that "the last thing on anyone's mind is the players' recovery."

On Saturday, Real Madrid took the matter a step further. The club's TV channel announced they would seek FIFA's support to prevent such situations in the future. After their win over Villarreal, Ancelotti emphasized their stance, stating, "I think today is the last time that we'll play a game before 72 hours. We won't do it again, without 72 hours of rest." He also confirmed that the team would not participate in matches without the required rest: "No, of course not."

FIFA recommends a 72-hour recovery period between matches to safeguard player health. However, LaLiga, which schedules the matches, determines the actual kickoff times. Meanwhile, Barcelona, one of Real Madrid's main title contenders, was given an extra day's rest before their Sunday evening LaLiga match.

Ancelotti expressed pride in his team's performance despite the tight schedule, stating, "I'm very proud of the players, it was a tricky game. The opponent plays very well. We hung on, above all in the second half. The team was exhausted but that's normal. It's a victory that says a lot about this team and the resources in this squad."

The demanding fixture list, intensified by the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which will run from June 15 to July 13, has been a consistent concern for top clubs and players in recent years.

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