Ancelotti sorry for Real Madrid defeat

Real Madrid deserve all the criticism they get for their Champions League home defeat by Schalke, said coach Carlo Ancelotti in an apology.

The defending champions reached the quarter-finals with a 5-4 aggregate win, but were jeered off after losing the second leg 4-3.

"I'm very sorry. We played very badly and that is bad for our image," said Ancelotti.

"We're professionals, we don't make ourselves look ridiculous."

The 10-time European champions have qualified for their fifth successive Champions League quarter-final but were left hanging on at the Bernabeu as they suffered a fifth defeat of 2015.

Schalke, who were trailing 2-0 from the first leg, applied heavy late pressure for the one goal they needed to qualify as Real lost for the first time in 22 home Champions League matches.

Ancelotti ended his first season in charge by winning the Champions League last May, but has faced growing criticism from sections of the club's support this time round.

"All the criticism we get is justified," Ancelotti said. "We need to look at our defence, that's where all our errors were. No team has put four past us at home.

"We had problems in every aspect of the game: offensive; defensive; desire; fight and concentration.

"It's not easy to explain what's happened. We've lost confidence."

Schalke threatened to become only the third team to win by two goals at Real in the last 10 years of Champions League football, twice taking the lead on the night in the first half through goals from Christian Fuchs and former Real striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Cristiano Ronaldo twice pulled Ancelotti's side level with headers before half-time, and Karim Benzema put the hosts in front early in the second half.

But Schalke earned a fully deserved win thanks to further strikes from Leroy Sane and Huntelaar.

Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo, who won the competition with Chelsea in 2012, said: "We have mixed feelings.

"The team showed a really high level. We tried everything to stay in the competition. Tonight we won the match, but nevertheless it wasn't enough."

Credit: BBC