Carlo Ancelotti has said he was worried about Real Madrid's level of performance in their 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The result marked the first time in three years that they have suffered back-to-back defeats in all competitions, having been hammered 4-0 by Barcelona at the Bernabeu last time out.
Following the match, Real Madrid are 17th in the Champions League table – just three points off dropping out of the play-off positions – with Wednesday's games to come.
"We have to be concerned, the team is not playing well," Ancelotti told a press conference on Tuesday.
"The team is not compact, we need to be more compact, more organised, we've conceded a lot of goals ... The team is not well organised on the pitch and we need to work on this.
"We have to focus on what we have today, which is a team that is not at its best, and get back to our level so we can fight for all competitions."
Real Madrid have conceded nine goals in their last three matches, while a Vinicius Junior penalty on Tuesday was their only goal in their last two. Players such as Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, were booed by fans.
"It is not an issue of motivation or attitude, it's a collective thing that we need to fix quickly," said Ancelotti.
"On the pitch, something is missing and we have not been able to show our best version. We have to fix this, but the nights are going to be very long and we have to recover the solidity that we are lacking.
"That's the problem above all, we've conceded too many goals for a team that is built on solidity.
"We have to accept criticism and accept reality. We want to do better because it's very difficult to get to the end of the season like this. We have to defend better and we have to look for solutions, without going crazy after drastic changes.
"It's good that the players are down like I am. We can all think about how to improve our version. We are confident that this team will improve." (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Motta: Juventus 'deserved more' from Lille stalemate
Thiago Motta feels Juventus "deserved more" against Lille, insisting "I cannot be happy" with the 1-1 draw in the Champions League.
The spoils were shared at Stade Pierre Mauroy, where a second-half Dusan Vlahovic penalty cancelled out Jonathan David's opener in the 27th minute.
Juve responded well to falling behind, controlling large periods of the contest after the break, but were unable to turn their superiority into a winning goal.
That moved the Bianconeri onto seven points after four games, though Motta believes their tally should be greater.
"I'm happy with the players, but I cannot be happy with the result, we deserved more than a draw," he said.
"We faced a team who were well-organised, defended very well and who were ready to hurt us on the break. Lille know what they are doing, they are full of confidence at the moment. But it was a great performance from my lads.
"We certainly could've done better in the final third, though the quality of our football improved in the second half.
"We wanted a different result and created the opportunities to get that, but I am happy with the performance. We can improve certain things but, overall, I am satisfied with the way the team played."
Motta also praised the performances of Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz, with the pair carrying some of Juventus' greater threats down the wings.
"The two wingers who started were in good form, we knew that we would have to go down the flanks to break Lille down," the Bianconeri coach added.
"It was tough for us to push through the middle today because Lille were closing up all the spaces, so we had to attack wide with the wingers, and also the full-backs overlapping.
"Kenan and Francisco are very good at taking men on in one-on-one situations to break down teams that are clammed up.
"I really liked them in the second half, as they were in the right zones to accept the ball, and I am glad about what they both did."
Reggae Girlz keeper Becky Spencer signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal aiming to make a lasting impact
Reggae Girlz goalkeeper Becky Spencer is set to remain with Tottenham Hotspur Women until 2026, after signing a new contract that will see her continue her contributions both on and off the pitch. Spencer, who joined Spurs from West Ham United in 2019, has been instrumental in the club's journey through the Women's Super League (WSL) and is looking forward to extending her legacy.
The 33-year-old Jamaican international, who has already featured in Tottenham’s first six games of the current WSL season, is thrilled to extend her stay. "I'm over the moon," Spencer shared with SPURSPLAY. "Having been here for a long time now, it was important for me to get this done. It’s amazing that the club wants to keep me here, and I'm really, really happy."
Spencer reflected on her time at Tottenham, recalling the club’s early days in the WSL. "When I first joined, we had just been promoted to the WSL, and the journey has been incredible. We’ve come a long way, and I’m excited to keep moving forward with the team," she said.
Over an 18-year career, Spencer has gained extensive experience in both England and the United States. Through highs and lows, including injuries and team transitions, she’s become a seasoned WSL veteran. Now approaching her 100th appearance for Tottenham, Spencer highlighted the special moments that have defined her time at the club, recalling her debut game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. "That first game against Chelsea was huge for us—just one-nil down and competing against top teams showed everyone we had arrived," she reminisced.
As she enters her sixth season with Tottenham, Spencer is committed to guiding younger players and helping the club grow. "Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to leave every club in a better place than I found it," she added. "I hope to be a mentor and make an impact off the pitch as well, so that when my time here ends, I can leave feeling proud of what we’ve achieved."
With Spencer’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur Women look forward to building on last season's top-six finish and pushing even further in the competitive landscape of the WSL. For Spencer, the new deal is more than just an extension—it's a commitment to shaping the future of the club and ensuring its growth, both now and beyond her playing days.
Nuri Sahin lauded "a very important win" for Borussia Dortmund, after Donyell Malen's late strike sealed a narrow 1-0 victory over Sturm Graz.
Last year's Champions League finalists claimed their third win from four matches in this season's competition, with substitute Malen securing all three points with five minutes remaining.
The Netherlands international executed a neat one-two with Serhou Guirassy to put Dortmund fourth in the league table on nine points.
And though they left it late, Sahin felt his side were worthy of their victory.
"A very important win," he told reporters during his post-match press conference. "It was a deserved win, even if we scored late. We controlled the game for the most time.
"We stayed clear. I thought it would happen earlier [the goal]. But even though we scored a late goal, it's nine points for us so far."
Meanwhile, Sturm Graz are left rooted to the foot of the table, and still seeking their first points of the competition.
"In my opinion, we had the better opportunities in the phase before they scored," coach Christian Ilzer said.
"But then the goal was scored and we were left empty-handed. That's very annoying. But we have to take the lead in a game like this."
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