Carlo Ancelotti
Aftermath of a record-breaking January transfer window for the Premier League, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti feels the rest of Europe cannot keep pace.
The Premier League will always lead in Europe when it comes to player acquisitions, but the Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti vows his side will not surrender easily.
Clubs in the English top flight spent over a record-breaking £800million during the January window, majorly led by a plethora of big-money signings from Chelsea, who shattered the competition’s transfer record by signing Enzo Fernandez.
The financial outlay to bring in players to the Premier League saw the competition outspend the combined totals of Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A and the LaLiga
Speaking ahead of his side’s Thursday fixture with Valencia, Ancelotti suggested European clubs will always trail their English counterparts when it comes to spending in large sums, though noted the Premier League teams will not necessarily dominate in UEFA competitions.
“We know what happens there,” he said. “With the television rights, they can spend higher amounts. It will continue like this.
“Europe will follow the Premier League, it gives them an advantage.
“Even so, the competition against them, in Europe, it will not end.”
Ancelotti’s side are preparing for a busy schedule that will see them juggle matches across four competitions, including the Club World Cup in Morocco.
Though Madrid are ready to rise to the challenge, Ancelotti said the congested schedule laid out by UEFA and FIFA is a pressing concern for big clubs.
“It is a [tough] calendar. LaLiga wants to do its thing, FIFA wants to do its thing, UEFA wants to do its thing. It doesn’t let us have days off.
“The calendar is a very serious issue. We are excited to fight in all these competitions, but the calendar limit is being exceeded. We have to do something to avoid this.”