Fede Valverde is determined to reach Ancelotti’s target

The Real Madrid coach has issued Valverde an ultimatum: score 10 goals this season or he’ll retire.

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has joked he doesn’t want to be responsible for Carlo Ancelotti’s retirement.

The manager has set Valverde a 10-goal target for this season, and so far he’s on course to match or even surpass it. The Uruguayan’s strike in the 3-0 win over Elche on Wednesday was his sixth goal across all competitions.

🦅 Estamos a 19 de octubre y Fede Valverde ya lleva 6 goles esta temporada.@DAZN_ES pic.twitter.com/uQ7m0B7baf

— Sphera Sports (@SpheraSports) October 19, 2022

“He has to have that responsibility. We have a bet. I think he will score more than ten this season,” Ancelotti told DAZN after the match.

“He’s a very important player for us. The energy he has is incredible. He has to score ten.”

Valverde added: “I’m focused on doing it. It’s a nice pressure. I don’t want to be to blame for the coach retiring.

Also on target was Karim Benzema, who had three goals disallowed by VAR for offside. Marco Asensio added a third in the 89th minute to seal a comfortable victory for Real Madrid.

The defending Spanish champions are six points above Barcelona, who play Villarreal on Thursday, in the league standings. Next up is a clash with Sevilla on Saturday.