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Real Madrid’s first game after losing to Atletico Madrid was against Las Palmas. The Merengues dominated the game for the whole 90 minutes, and goals from Joselu and Brahim Diaz helped them win all three points.
With the win, Real Madrid moves up to second place in the table, one point ahead of Barcelona, their biggest foe. It also sets up a heated match between Los Blancos and Girona, who are leading the league, later this week.
After his team’s big win at Santiago Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti talked to the media. He started by talking about how the game against Las Palmas went overall and how his team did.
“I’m worried about the end of the second half because we’ve slowed down and aren’t in charge of the game because we’re defending very low and not very hard. We try to get off to a good start so we can avoid trouble and get a lot of balls back.”
“In the first part, there was only failure, and in the second, there was a lot going on. “There’s a point in the season when all the teams slow down because they’re all pretty worn out,” he said.
He also talked about the team’s style of play that night and said that he didn’t like it when one team had the ball for a long time and controlled the game.
“You can use the long pass to get through the lines and stay in front of the goalie. It’s a choice we have to have. I don’t like having the ball, but I like goals. There is always something that can be done better.”
“Sometimes we’ve worked well together. That’s the job of the coach. In the first 20 minutes, they worked hard and gave everything they had. In this way, the players’ finishing in the first half lacked freshness,” he said of the forwards.
On Wednesday’s game, Brahim Diaz and Joselu were both in the starting group and scored the goals. The boss said that it was great that the two Spanish players got all three points.
“Brahim and Joselu have helped the team in good ways. In the first part, it could have gone better, but because they are both good at what they do, we have made things worse.
“When a player who doesn’t play much goes out on the field and does well, it makes us very happy because it shows that he is working hard and, most importantly, that he is motivated.”
He also said something special about young Diaz, who was Real Madrid’s first starter of the season.
“Brahim can play all of the above spots. If he plays as a defender, he has to play defense, which is not his strong suit. When he is one of the two players, he moves well and has a lot of skill with the ball at his feet.
“For a team that closes a lot, it is good at working in small areas, and its skill can help us. He also said that the player’s ability to dribble the ball was very good in small areas.
The boss then talked about injuries and gave a report on when he thought the rest of the players who were out would be back on the field.
He also made a note about how David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger seemed to get hurt during the night.
“Mendy is back, and Carvajal will be back in time for the next game. We think Rüdiger will be fine for the next game even though he was hurt. I don’t think Alaba will be there on Saturday because of the trouble with the kidnapper.
“Let’s see how Rüdiger and Nacho get better.Academy students Marvel and Carrillo, who are both very good, have also trained with us. I think Rüdiger will be fine,” he said about the defense’s weak spot.
Ancelotti decided to sit out both Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric against Las Palmas, and he explained why in his press conference after the game.
“They were tired, especially Bellingham, and I wanted to avoid trouble, so I let them rest. The players know very well how important it is to switch roles. I tried to handle the team, and in the next games we need to do it as well as possible.”
“It will go on until the next break, since there is a lot of wear and tear and a lot of accidents during this time. “At this point in the season, it’s hard to play at your best,” he said.
Vinicius Jr.’s return was the best thing for Real Madrid that night. The white players have missed the Brazilian’s presence in the final third a lot, and the boss couldn’t hide his joy.
“He’s come in with a lot of energy. I wanted to score and help my team win. Clearly, he’s missing something after a month, but he’s fully healed and needs to get ready well for Saturday, when the game starts.”
Real Madrid’s attack has been led by Rodrygo Goes, but he hasn’t been able to do much with his magic this season. Ancelotti said this about the Brazilian’s performance:
“These are times that pass for the attackers. When you don’t score, you start to feel anxious and worried, and that’s what’s happening to him. We need to keep giving him faith. Today, he didn’t score, but he set up Joselu’s second goal in a great way.
“I think he’s done enough for the game, but for him, the goal is very important, and the goals will come even when he’s not thinking about them. “He has to work, and if the goal is good, he will get there,” he said to encourage the young man.
The Italian coach also talked about Arda Guler’s new setback, which means he will be out for longer after being so close to coming back.
“It was unfortunate. He did well in practice yesterday and even scored the last goal of the game. Then he felt something in his thigh, and a small cut was found,”
“The player is upset because he was fine. We still have a little longer to wait. Even though it’s a small thing, it’s kept him from being free and giving him minutes today. “That was the plan,” he said about the Turkish superstar.
Last, he said what he thought about what Gil Marin, the president of Atletico Madrid, said about Real Madrid and how they “adulterate” the game.
“I don’t pay attention to what Atlético de Madrid’s owner or president says. People say and do whatever they want. I’m just saying that I think he’s done something very wrong. No one is flawless.”
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