REUTERS, Madrid

Real Madrid are in good shape so did not need to spend big in the January transfer window unlike clubs in the Premier League, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday.

Premier League teams spent a record 815 million pounds ($1.00 billion) in the January transfer window, an analysis from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said, with more than 275 million pounds spent on Tuesday’s deadline day alone.

Real, second in LaLiga, did not make any signings in the winter window but nor did they sell any of their players as they make a push to retain the league and Champions League titles they won last season along with other silverware.

“We did not address the (January) market because we did not need to,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Thursday’s LaLiga match against Valencia.

“If you do your planning well, you do not need to go the market (in January).

“If you have to address the market, it means that something went wrong. We thought that we didn’t need to... because we see our squad in good shape.”

Ancelotti’s former club Chelsea were the biggest spenders in the Premier League, including paying an English record 107 million pounds on deadline day for Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

“We all know what happens there (in the Premier League) with the money from the television rights that are much higher than everywhere else,” the Italian added.

“And it is not going to change, it will stay this way... gives them advantages. Yet, they will still be challenged by (other leagues) in Europe.”