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Theatre in football doesn’t exist: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti slams striker Endrick for misses vs Getafe

Brazilian wonderkid Endrick hasn't had the best 2024/25 season in Real Madrid colours with the 18-year-old scoring just one goal in the La Liga so far.

Real Madrid's Endrick reacts after missing a chance to score during the Champions League quarterfinals second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Brazilian wonderkid Endrick hasn’t had the best 2024/25 season in Real Madrid colours with the 18-year-old scoring just one goal in the La Liga so far. But he had a chance to add to his tally in Madrid’s midweek game against Getafe but he couldn’t take his chances with coach Carlo Ancelotti blasting the youngster after the match.

“Endrick had two good chances. For the first, I think he couldn’t have done much better. The second might have been offside but he has to learn from that. Young players need to strike the ball properly, not this theatrical stuff. Theatre in football doesn’t exist,” Ancelotti said.

Forward Kylian Mbappe out with an ankle injury he sustained in their Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal, Ancelotti also opted to start with Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Luka Modric, Antonio Ruediger and Eduardo Camavinga on the bench due to Saturday’s important Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

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Arda Guler’s cultured first-half strike earned Madrid a nervy 1-0 win at Getafe that kept their LaLiga title hopes alive and left them four points behind leaders Barcelona with five matches remaining.

After Barca extended their lead with a 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured three precious points thanks to the Turkey midfielder’s fine 20th-minute effort from the edge of the box.

The victory moved them up to 72 points in second place, nine ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand and take on Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Vinicius Jr, operating down the left flank, caused problems for Getafe’s defence and he was denied twice by goalkeeper David Soria. He also set up Endrick in the 32nd minute, only for defender Djene to make a heroic clearance on the goal-line.

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Real continued to control the game after the break, with Soria making impressive saves to deny a curling effort from Brahim Diaz and a potent strike from Vinicius.