Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti jokingly revealed his Christmas wish ahead of a vital La Liga clash with Sevilla at the weekend.
The Italian tactician delivered La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup titles to the Bernabeu in this calendar year. Yet he's also faced intense scrutiny when results didn't go Madrid's way during the ongoing campaign.
Ancelotti has previously said that he feels he is being criticised too much, and that maybe the press in Spain is getting tired of him.
At a prematch press conference on Saturday, he joked when invited to reveal his Christmas wish how he'll "ask Santa Claus that in 2025 I am not criticized so much".
"It's a joke. Criticism, sometimes, is also positive because it helps you improve. You have to accept it when things are not done as they should be and you don't have to give it more importance," Ancelotti added.
"I think it's going to be a very competitive year. And not only for Barca [FC Barcelona] and Madrid but also for Atletico Madrid. Atletico has the squad to be able to fight for the title until the end. It's going to be a very entertaining and long year. And it may be that the league can be won this season with less than 90 points the way things are going," Ancelotti also speculated.
"There's been a lot of good. We've won important things," Ancelotti said about 2024, while picking a record-extending UCL crown at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund as the stand out highlight.
"That's always a special moment. The worst, saddest moment was the defeat against Barca at home. We hadn't lost much and we weren't good there."
As for his striker Kylian Mbappe, who Ancelotti previously said wasn't at his best level, the Frenchman's adaptation period is over according to his manager.
"His adaptation period is over. It was normal that it was difficult for him at first, but that's over now," Ancelotti stated.
"He's recovered well from his injury and I'm sure he's going to give his best version. He is in a great moment of confidence and he is going to be the player we need."
On Sunday against Sevilla, Mbappe is almost certain to start in his central 9 role or on the left wing given Vinicius Jr. has been allowed to return to Brazil until December 30.