Carlo Ancelotti on Atleti: 'That's Football, This Isn't a Game for Pansies'

In his pre-match press conference in the buildup to the Madrid derby, Carlo Ancelotti refused to be baited in to journalists' questions about Atletico Madrid's seemingly cynical tactics. 

And in the process he got to flaunt a bit of his alpha-male tendencies. A double win for the Italian Real Madrid boss. 

According to Marca, Ancelotti was asked about the "intensity" of Atletico Madrid. He answered with the manliest of manly answers. 

"

Each team has its own style of play and the best thing we can do is impose ours out on the playing field. Each team has its own style from the characteristics of its players.

That's football. Atletico has its own, very intense. 

That's football, this isn't a game for pansies, it's a game for men. 

"

So there you have it, Ancelotti is completely OK with Atleti's tactics. 

For their part, Aletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo fired back at the media (via AS) for their questions directed toward Ancelotti and called him a gentleman. He was far less complimentary of the Spanish press. 

"

Ancelotti is a gentleman and he's absolutely right—football isn't for 'senoritas;' it's certain sections of the press who say that Atletico play violent football. 

I'd like to ask those journalists to name an Atletico player who has been banned for nine games. 

(In Spain) we have ignorant chat show guests who spout nothing but rubbish and are incapable of seeing further than the end of their own noses. 

You can't just go around talking nonsense. The same 'violence' they talk about could easily apply to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Cordoba...these people are frauds, hypocrites and scumbags. 

You have to know how to win and how to accept losing; Atletico know how to accept defeat but when we win, you cannot turn around and accuse us of being shameless layabouts. 

"