Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has downplayed talk of a crisis at the club and explained why he benched Cristiano Ronaldo last night.

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The Italian trainer believes that Real Madrid can stay in the Copa Del Rey, despite their loss to rivals, Atletico last night and believes that suggestions of a crisis at the club, with two competitive defeats suffered on the trot, are premature.

“Talking of a crisis is melodramatic. There is another ninety minutes of this knockout tie to go,” he remarked.

The former AC Milan manager went on to justify his decision to bench Cristiano Ronaldo before concluding that his team have to give their all to progress to the Copa Del Rey quarter finals.

“He (Ronaldo) was tired, so did not start,” he added.

“We don't have much chance of going through from this knockout tie but we'll give it everything we have.”

Real Madrid will look to return to winning ways when they host Espanyol in La Liga this Saturday.

You can follow that match LIVE here.

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