Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke after a 3-2 win over Manchester City in the Champions League to play down expectations, explaining that, “the result is a trap result. You’ve won, it can make you lower your arms, because you don’t have to come back, but you have to prepare well, as we did today, with the same quality and sacrifice. Just like tonight”.
Later in the press conference, Managing Madrid’s Kiyan Sobhani asked Ancelotit about Eduardo Camavinga’s performance, and his development as a ‘6’.
“It was his first game back today, I think he was very good,” Ancelotti said. “Where he must improve.. he has to have better position on the pitch when we have the ball, to choose the right situation to pass the ball. But tonight he was outstanding. Him and Ceballos both.”
Ancelotti on whether Real Madrid could’ve won by more
“I don’t think so, I don’t think we could have won the tie here. We have to play another game, we have taken a small advantage, it was a very good game. We have to be happy. We had a lot of chances. City played well in attack, they created problems for us. We must prepare well for the return leg, bearing in mind that a match like this strengthens you for what’s to come.”
Ancelotti on whether this was Real Madrid’s best game this season in the Champions League
“I don’t think so, it was a good match, I expected it. It was a complete game from the team, offensively, we had doubts about whether we could have balance and we have seen that we can, if there is a good dose of sacrifice. Today everyone made sacrifices and the quality is unquestionable.”
Ancelotti on this being an example
“Yes, it is the way, not only because of this match. For a long time. The season is really starting, and despite the difficulty, we got a very good result. We have to highlight a little bit of everything. The back four had never played together before. And what’s more, they had never trained together. They played an exceptional game. Valverde, the central defenders, Mendy, Asencio continues to surprise… In the emergency we got something good out of it.”
Ancelotti on the Vinícius banner
“I don’t know if you’ve seen it. Watching his game, it has been a motivation for him. He has always been very dangerous. The top four all were.”
Ancelotti on his pride in the team
“Defensively, it’s a stadium where you have to work well, otherwise they score a lot of goals. It was a different game. We saw a different game than last year, with more control.”
Ancelotti on his half-time team-talk
“We fixed two things, we didn’t press well a few times. In one of those we scored a goal. In the rest of the things, with the ball we didn’t change anything. Vini and Rodrygo were on the outside and created a lot of danger. And I told them to calm down, it’s the first part of the tie, we didn’t have to go crazy.”
Ancelotti on his team’s belief
“The defence is not an individual problem, it’s a group problem. We had to be a team, be together, the team worked especially well defensively.”
Ancelotti on his plan
“The plan was to press up front only at the start, when Ederson came on the ball, and then to be in a compact midfield block, without going crazy, with the forwards tight inside, so that the midfielders stayed further back. And with the ball, width and not getting frustrated with long passes.”
Ancelotti on his injured players returning for the second leg
“Clearly, for the second leg we need Rüdiger and Alaba, I think they will be back for the second leg. But the more of an emergency we face, the more sacrifice the players make. It happened last year and it happened this year. It was a bit surprising, I didn’t think that at this moment the team could have such a sacrifice.”