Wednesday 11 March 2015 08:04, UK
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says fans were right to boo off the Champions League holders after losing to Schalke.
Madrid were jeered by their home fans at the final whistle following their 4-3 defeat in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg – a result which saw the La Liga giants scrape through 5-4 on aggregate.
Ancelotti has come under fire after some poor performances since the winter break, with the current European champions now a point behind leaders Barcelona in the league.
Speaking on Revista de La Liga earlier this week, Graham Hunter said Zinedine Zidane is being lined up to be Ancelotti’s successor as manager at Real Madrid, while Guillem Balague believes the Italian's job is under threat.
The current Real Madrid boss admits his team are struggling and the fans are well within their rights to voice their concerns.
"There are problems across the board," he said. "In attack, in defence, in a lack of fight, motivation and concentration.
"It is not good for our image and that of the club. The whistles were totally justified. We have to work harder and focus more. We have to have more of everything."
Real have little time to set things right with a trip to Barca for the La Liga 'Clasico' looming on March 22.
The whistles were totally justified. We have to work harder and focus more. We have to have more of everything.
Barca's front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have been in prolific form since the turn of the year, while Real's forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have gone off the boil.
Ronaldo did score twice on Tuesday, taking his tally in European competition to a record 78 goals, but it did not mask what was a generally disappointing showing from the team.
One bright spot was the return from a long-term injury of Luka Modric, who came on as a second-half substitute.
"He will give us more control of the ball, so we are more effective," Ancelotti said.
"We can't demand too much of him, we have to take things slowly. He played well for 30 minutes and he will help us."
