Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has hit back at suggestions that Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil was forced out at Los Blancos by claiming that the Germaninternational did not want to stay and fight for his place in Real’s starting 11. Over the summer, the La Liga giant brought in Gareth Bale, a forward/winger, AsierIllarramendi and Isco, both central midfielders, as well as defender Dani Carvajal. Ancelotti claims the added competition in midfield droveOzil’s desire to leave in pursuit of a regular place in the starting lineup of a major club.
“At great clubs there are two ways to react to competition: either you stay to fight foryour position or you leave,” Ancelotti said in an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe. “Mamadou Sakho talked to me early last season [while Ancelotti wascoach of Paris Saint-Germain] and I warned him that he would have to fight to play, and he said he would do that. Ozil preferred to leave. He said he left the club because he didn’t feel trust. But henever came to talk to me. Before the international break we played three matches, he played two in the starting XI and he didn’t play the last one because of transfer rumors.”