Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacted to his team being whistled against Rayo Vallecano at … [+]
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti understood his team being whistled towards the end of a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Los Blancos went 2-0 up pretty early through first half goals from Kylian Mbappe but then went on the back foot after Rayo pulled one back prior to the interval.
That was to secure three points, which put them on a level footing with bitter rival FC Barcelona at the La Liga summit after the Catalans had their match against Osasuna postponed.
Asked what he thought of the whistles and how he felt at his post-match press conference, Ancelotti first replied: “The feeling is good, because the objective was to score.”
“The first half was very good, it could have ended 3-0 but it ended 2-1. That’s where the second half got complicated for us. Although we also had many chances… but when you get to 2-1 in the 75th minute, what you have to do is avoid problems and defend well.
“I understand that people didn’t like it, but we have to take into account that many of the teams that have played in the Champions League have suffered. Inter, Liverpool, Leverkusen, Bayern… It’s very difficult to prepare for these games, against teams that are good and put in the intensity of Rayo,” Ancelotti protested.
On whether his team will advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday playing in such a manner, against Atletico Madrid in a last 16 second leg where it harbours a 2-1 advantage, Ancelotti said: “If we play like we did in the first half… we have a good chance of getting through the tie.”
Ancelotti doesn’t believe that captain Luka Modric will be doubtful for said meeting “because he will recover in the next few days”.
“He was tired, it was a demanding match, but he will be fine. Hopefully [Toni]
Rudiger can recover from the flu… and [Thibaut] Courtois too.
With the Frenchman and Brazilian criticized midweek, Ancelotti thought that his frontmen were better today.
“Goals are an important thing. Until the 70th minute, both he [Mbappe] and Vinicius did very well, creating many chances.
“But when I think it’s time to defend, I take off the forwards. This doesn’t pose any problems for me. Just like I took off Rodrygo, because this will be good for him,” Ancelotti concluded on this.
