Ancelotti, Courtois Criticise Fixture Congestion After Villarreal Win

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has vowed that his team will never again take to the pitch with fewer than 72 hours of rest between matches. His comments came after Los Blancos hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, just days after their exhausting Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, which went to penalties.

"I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours of rest," Ancelotti told reporters. "We will never play another game without 72 hours of rest. We asked La Liga twice to reschedule the game, but they did nothing. This is the last time."

FIFA recommends a minimum of 72 hours between games to safeguard player health, but Madrids schedule left them with significantly less recovery time. Despite the fatigue, Kylian Mbappe's brace secured the win, sending Madrid to the top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona's clash with Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Ancelotti praised his squad for overcoming the difficult conditions. "I am very proud of this team. It was a potential banana skin-considering the short rest and the quality of the opposition-but we fought and won."

The Italian has long criticised the increasing demands on players, with Madrid also set to compete in the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the United States.