Ancelotti: "We're pleased to reach the quarter-finals"
"We had to dig deep, more than we thought we might have to," said the madridista coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu and analysed Real Madrid’s win against Leipzig in the Champions League last-16. The Italian said: “We had to dig deep, more than we thought we might have to. It was difficult and we played badly. Now we're pleased to reach the quarter-finals. We're in a better position than ever because we're seven points clear in the league and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. If I'd been told this at the beginning of the season, I'd have taken it.”
“We have to be critical because it has happened again. When we have a small lead we don't know how to handle it mentally. We don't press and we lack intensity. Maybe I made a mistake in the line-up, but I wanted to bring more intensity and energy, and we didn't do that. That's where we have to improve and evaluate what we didn't do well.”
Managing leads
“My idea was to put the midfielders in with energy to press high up, maintain a high tempo and prevent counter-attacks. It was a weak performance, with a low block and we weren't able to press high. It was a tough game, we couldn't handle this kind of advantage as we did last season against Liverpool. It also happened to me in my first season against Schalke when we won the first leg 0-2 and lost the second leg 3-4. We have to prepare for the games in a different way.”
Self-criticism and demands from the Bernabéu
“We have to accept criticism when it is deserved and today's criticism is deserved. The whistles at the end of the first half were deserved and I think they woke us up. We played better in the second half. You need to have a demanding crowd like the one at the Bernabéu because the whistles woke us up at certain times in the second half. Although we're pleased to reach the quarter-finals, we have to be critical and we should've played better. I wouldn't play the same eleven.”
Support from the fans
“Our fans always help and support us. We've had spectacular and historic nights in this stadium. Today wasn't a good night in some respects, but now we have another quarter-final at the Bernabéu and the atmosphere is definitely going to be spectacular.”
Vini Jr.’s goal
“I saw the move for the goal, and it was spectacular: the pass, the run and the shot. Then Vinicius pushed the defender, but I didn't think it was a red card.”
Mental fatigue
“We lost our freshness, we had less control, less directness in the play and we were lazy in possession. We have to make up for this soon. We have two games before the break. There we'll have time to relax mentally because the team is tired in this regard. After the break we'll come back better. We may have Courtois and Militão for the quarter-finals and that's good news.”
Tactical change
“Defensively it was important to keep Olmo and Simons under control with Tchouameni and Camavinga. That's where the danger was in the first leg. We opted for a 4-3-3 to let Kroos get forward a bit more. They managed to play out from the back well with the two centre-backs and the two inside players, that created problems for us and we couldn't put more pressure on them.”
“We changed the system and I brought on an extra forward in Rodrygo. I used a line of four with Tchouameni and Kroos as pivots, with Bellingham on the left and Valverde on the right. If I had to change anyone in the game, I might as well have changed the coach.”
New Champions format
“I've got a rough idea of it. I think all formulas that put more games into the season are wrong.”
Prosecutor's investigation
“This isn't the right place to talk about this. I've said something in a previous interview. It's an old story, it doesn't affect me and I hope it'll be resolved soon. I'm calm and the only issue I have is for the team to play better.”