Nobody wanted to play: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants football in Spain to be suspended in wake of Valencia flash floods | Football News
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that football in Spain should have been completely suspended after the flash floods killed at least 215 people in Valencia.
“Football is a party and you can only celebrate and party when you, your family and everybody is well… When people are not well, you don’t party. Football has to stop… For me it does. Because it is the most important of the least important things in life. But we are not the decision makers… We have to follow the instructions of those who are in charge,” Ancelotti said a day before Real Madrid take on Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
“There are many ways to help. Football had to stop and then help. Everyone has been clear about it, nobody wanted to play. It seemed like the right decision… I have no desire to talk about football today…,” he added.
It maybe mentioned here that Real’s weekend game last week against Valencia had to be postponed due to the tragedy after the Spanish FA (RFEF) ordered to re-schedule all games scheduled for Valencia at the weekend in addition to seven cup ties.
Ancelotti, who won eight trophies with Milan including two Champions League titles, said it was bittersweet to face his former club in such circumstances.
“It was supposed to be a special game for me, facing Milan… But there is no meaning in talking about football now. It has been a difficult week, not because of what happened with the Ballon d’Or or El Clasico… It happened and that’s that, congratulations to the winners. Our sadness is not about that, it is for what is happening here in Spain,” he said.
(With agency inputs)