Ancelotti: "Bellingham is a gift for football"
"When it seemed that we didn't have enough energy to win, we showed the opposite and that's why we won the game," added the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu after Real Madrid‘s victory over Napoli and the Italian analysed the matchday five clash in Group C of the Champions League: “It was a competitive game against a top quality side. We played well on the ball, without being in a hurry, and we managed to play out from the back well. We could've done better defensively. We were organised, but not aggressive. When it seemed that we didn't have enough energy to win, we showed the opposite and that's why we won the game. We're tired and we've had players with cramp. It's normal because it was an open and very intense game. There were a lot of transitions from both teams and we finished quite tired. We have time to recover before Saturday.”
“The derby highlighted that we conceded three goals from crosses and I think we weren't able to control the penalty area with the two centre-backs. We've tweaked it a bit so that the centre-backs are more inside the box for crosses. We're doing quite well defensively now, but today we could've been more decisive, especially when we had the low block. The two goals conceded are things we have to evaluate. We're satisfied, but they were two situations that could've been avoided. Despite that, we were lucky to score two more goals than our opponents.”
Bellingham
“He surprises every day and in every game. Not only us but everybody. He's a gift for football. His teammates and the fans are delighted with him and the whole football world, who see a player with this potential and this positive image. I hope he can continue like this. I don't want to go into how much money he has cost, but he's been a wonderful signing. We have to bear in mind that he is 20 years old. He's the ideal player for today's football: he has intensity and he covers the field quickly.”
“He's serious, professional and has adapted very well in the dressing room. He works hard and gets on very well with the others. He needs to improve his Spanish. Nobody's perfect. It's difficult to compare him with Zidane. They're two different generations. Bellingham has an ability to get into the box that Zidane didn't have and Zidane had an individual quality that Bellingham doesn't have. Modern football requires players who are physically strong and able to cover a lot of ground quickly.”
The squad
“Players have arrived who have undoubtedly improved the quality of the squad, like Brahim, Joselu and Fran García. They bring something important to the team, we're enjoying beautiful moments and we'll do everything we can to keep this momentum going.”
Nico Paz
“He has contributed what everyone expected. It's a special night for him. He's a player for the future of Real Madrid because he has all the qualities that a player in the Real Madrid squad needs to have. At a time of need, he is just what we need.”
Rodrygo’s goalscoring form
“I've seen a lot of forwards with bad patches and that's when you have to keep your confidence up and the player never gives up. He never gave up and the day he scored the first goal he clicked and it changed him. It was just a matter of time.”
Injuries
“We can't get anyone back for Granada, but I think that Modrić will be able to play against Betis. We'll prepare for the match against Granada with these players.”
Joselu
“He has done his job. Not just today. I don't just ask him to score goals. He works really hard and he'll continue to work hard. Scoring goals is good for him, but a player has to apologise when he doesn't work and he's always worked very hard.”