Carlo Ancelotti makes title race vow after Real Madrid slip up
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti vowed to keep fighting in the La Liga title race after his side missed a chance to close the gap to leaders Barcelona.
Los Blancos entered Sunday's meeting with third-placed Real Sociedad six points behind Barcelona and could only trim that deficit by one, with a 0-0 draw doing nothing to boost Real's chances reclaiming top spot.
Despite the growing gap between the two Clasico rivals, Ancelotti has refused to rule Real out of the title race.
"We are five points behind, so we have to run," Ancelotti said after the game.
"Barcelona are doing very well, but there is a long way to go. January has been tough, but the team has grown and is going to start to improve. We will fight."
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Later asked whether Real can still win the league, Ancelotti insisted it was too early to start talking about potential title triumphs.
"We compete well in every game, but [talk of] winning the league seems a bit early to me," he added.
Barcelona also earned bragging rights over Real earlier in January with a 3-1 victory in the final of the Spanish Supercopa - a win which handed Xavi his first trophy as Blaugrana manager.