Ancelotti Pleased with Real Madrid’s Tactical Mastery in Victory Over Atletico
Carlo Ancelotti has expressed satisfaction with Real Madrid’s performance following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Despite a tense encounter, the Italian coach felt that his team’s approach was exactly what he had envisioned.
“We wanted to have good control of the game, possess the ball, and find offensive solutions without rushing,” Ancelotti explained, as quoted by L’Equipe. “We also had to be focused and solid on set pieces. From all these points of view, we played the match I expected.”
Real Madrid’s victory came at a crucial time in the season, with significant pressure mounting before the match against a resilient Atletico Madrid side known for their strong defensive organization. Ancelotti highlighted the importance of the team’s preparation and mental approach leading up to the game.
“It was a key match this season, given the pressure we were under before kickoff, against a very strong Atlético team, who defend very well and never give up,” Ancelotti said. “But we prepared well for this match. The first leg gave us confidence, in fact, even though we hadn’t scored. Tonight, we scored at the perfect moment. The motivation was very high. The team was determined and calm at the same time. I didn’t see any tension in the players’ eyes. We discussed tactics before the match.”
One of the standout performances of the night came from Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who scored the all-important goal. Ancelotti was full of praise for the Mexican forward, who had endured a tough season with limited playing time.
“Chicharito played a very good game, with a lot of desire and generosity,” Ancelotti said. “He suffered a lot this season because he didn’t play much. But in the end, he scored a very important goal for Real. He never gave up, and in the end, it paid off.”
The victory secured Real Madrid’s place in the Champions League semi-finals, where they will now look to build on their solid tactical performance and move closer to another European title.
