Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media following Tuesday night’s memorable win over Borussia Dortmund, praising the hero of the hour, Vinícius Júnior, by saying, “I can say that it is rare to see a player who makes a second half as he does.
Apart from the goals, with an energy and intensity, with an extraordinary character.
He will win the Ballon d’Or, not for tonight, but for last season. These are three goals that will help him for the next Ballon d’Or.
I think he is being recognized. He gets whistled because he can make a difference. He is paying for the racism issue. But I think he is respected in this country.”
Ancelotti on the game
“We lived it calmly, calmly, trying to think about changing in the second half. The team was more intense. In the first half we were timid.
We didn’t put pressure on the ball. We scored two goals with very little. It was quite clear what we had to do.
We did well in the second half. There was more pressure on the ball, it was the best second half of the season.”
Ancelotti on what he said at half-time
“I said that we could think it was utopia to come back, but that we should focus on the small details. Don’t miss passes, make good crosses, win duels. When you win duels, the dynamic of the match changes. And it changed with the first goal for us.”
Ancelotti on the front three
“The system is not the most important thing. It’s the attitude of the players, whatever the system. If we play with 4-4-2 in the first half, the same thing happens to us. I mean that the most important thing is the attitude of the players.”
Ancelotti on the lack of first half intensity
“It’s difficult to say, I think we have to learn from this second half. With a very high intensity. The goal is to start like that, not to wait for two goals. I don’t think we can play 90 minutes like we played the second half, but we have to be a bit more balanced. And we are going to achieve it.”
Ancelotti on the takeaway for his players
“With everything, the bad and the good. The second half taught us a lot. It could be a key moment in our season.”
Ancelotti on Lucas Vázquez
“He scored the goal that brought the game back. I ask him to work offensively and it costs him a little more to defend, it’s normal. But he gives us a lot of space. He scored a great goal.”
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