MADRID, 16 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, stated that “the first part” carried out by his team in El Clásico, when it went 2-0 with “more forcefulness and effectiveness”, was “the key” to victory, at the same time that he insisted that he cares about “winning,” not a “goleada.”
“We have been better in the first half, more forceful and effective. We have handled the start from behind, with confidence. Defensively we have done well, with everyone’s commitment. The first half has been the key to the game”, said the coach Italian in the press conference after the victory (3-1) over Barça.
The coach acknowledged that his team was “comfortable” in the first half with the “low block” and “on the counter.” “Later, little by little, we have handled the ball better. By putting in other players we have achieved a lot afterwards”, he explained.
Despite the superiority and importance that the victory could entail in terms of spirit, Ancelotti pointed out that “there are three points” and “nothing more”, although they are taken away “from a strong team with many resources”. “The season is very long, we are happy, but nothing more,” he added.
“We pressed the accelerator until the end. You can’t have the intensity of the first half all the time. The game was very well controlled and I didn’t want to change the dynamic. The second half, Barça pushed a little more, but behind we didn’t suffered a lot,” he analyzed.
One of the keys to the victory was the performance of the German Toni Kroos and the Uruguayan Fede Valverde in midfield, putting together a “very good” game. “Valverde is getting used to playing in that position and he is doing it well. He reaches the goal more, he is scoring, he has spectacular energy”, he highlighted, before addressing the possible retirement of the white number ‘8’ next season .
“He knows what we all think. We don’t need to push him into something, he’s so intelligent and he likes Real Madrid so much, that any decision will make us happy,” he commented on Kroos.
The German and Luka Modric were shielded by an Aurelién Tchouameni who “has everything”. “He is young, he has personality, character. He has everything, playing with Modric and Kroos helps a lot, he feels very comfortable with them. He has a lot of quality, especially mentally”, he praised.
Ancelotti also explained that he asked Eder Militao for a more aggressive marking on Robert Lewandowski, who did not score this afternoon at the Bernabéu. “It seemed like an individual mark on Lewandowski, I have asked him to be more aggressive, more forceful, and Alaba controlling his position more,” he deepened.
“I have seen Benzema much better, he has played a good game, he has scored and it has been important. Hopefully tomorrow he will win the Ballon d’Or,” he said about the Frenchman’s game, author of 2-0, after more than a month without see door
In addition, the Madrid coach valued the referee’s “good game”, questioned by a controversial action in a possible penalty on Lewandowski that the culé team claimed, and which even caused the president of Barça, Joan Laporta, to go to the referee’s locker room after the encounter
Finally, asked if Real Madrid is not forced to beat its rival in the Clásicos, Ancelotti stressed that “a win is a different kind of football”. “We care about winning games. A win is another world,” he insisted.
“The fans have always been with us, but what happened last year has brought us closer together. Today has been like an afternoon in the Champions League, the team has delivered,” he concluded.
