Real Madrid supporters and players revelled in their hard-earned triumph over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, securing a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed more relief than outright joy regarding what he deemed a less-than-stellar performance.
The match concluded with a dramatic penalty shootout, where Real clinched victory 4-2 after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate, as the defending champions pursue an unprecedented 16th European Cup title.
Ancelotti voiced his frustration over conceding an early goal within the first minute, which equalised the tie following Real’s 2-1 advantage from the first leg at home last week.
He urged his squad to sharpen their focus as they gear up to face Arsenal for a spot in the semi-finals.
“I have endeavoured to convey to my players that we must not complicate matters any further than they already are,” Ancelotti shared during a press conference.
“We made it harder by surrendering unnecessary possessions that repeatedly left us vulnerable… Had they scored a second goal, it could have spiralled out of control… We improved as the match went on, creating opportunities, but we must enhance our focus and concentration,” he remarked.
“There is always room for improvement. The tie was closely contested, and a single mistake could prove fatal. While we certainly aimed to wrap up the game before penalties, here we are, still battling and in contention, as is the tradition at this club.“
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