Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal admitted the team hit “rock bottom” following their humiliating 3–2 defeat to second-tier side Albacete on Wednesday evening.
Less than 48 hours after Xabi Alonso was sacked as the club manager, Madrid went on to record one of the shocking defeats in the club’s history. Albacete put in a dominant display to dump out the La Liga giant out of the Copa del Rey.
Albacete put three goals past Real Madrid, including the match-winner in the 94th minute, to punch their tickets to the quarterfinals.
Jefte Betancor of Albacete celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Copa del Rey Round of 16 match against Real Madrid. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
“We’ve hit rock bottom spectacularly,” Carvajal said after Wednesday’s Copa del Rey shock. “We have to face the music even when we lose, and that’s what we have to do now. We, the players, are ultimately responsible.
“We’ve been knocked out by a Segunda División team and congratulations to them. From tomorrow, we have to be self-critical individually and collectively.”
Real Madrid players dejected after Albacete´s second goal during the Copa del Rey round of 16 match. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Current form. Shows Real Madrid needs to improve if they are to win a silverware this season. They currently trail Barcelona by four points in the League table, while defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City put them seventh in the Champions League standings.
Still, Real Madrid are alive in both competitions, a fact Carvajal was quick to remind both the dressing room and the fans.
“We still have time to turn the season around. We have two fantastic competitions to fight for. The team isn’t at its best right now and we have to work hard,” the Spaniard said.
“We all have to give a lot more and that is the reality. That’s the message: we have to go all out. We also apologize to the fans and we are not, myself first, at the level and expectations of this club. We promise to give our all in the games over the next few months so that the situation can be reversed.”
Real Madrid will now have the chance to turn their season around when they face 19th-place Levante on Saturday, Jan. 17.
