Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his team after a dramatic 1-0 win over Valencia, acknowledging the resilience displayed despite a poor first half and a red card for Vinícius Júnior. “It was hard to explain how bad we were in the first half and how well we played in the second with ten men,” said Ancelotti. “We faced many obstacles, including a sending-off, a missed penalty, and a disallowed goal, but the victory was deserved.”
Ancelotti noted that the team’s turnaround in the second half was impressive. “We started playing after the goal, and the second half was really strong despite playing with one less player. We can’t afford to repeat such a horrible first half, but the second half was outstanding,” he explained.
Addressing the controversial red card for Vinícius Júnior, Ancelotti expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating, “We believe it should have been two yellows, one for each player. We are going to appeal, but we’re not sure if it will be overturned.” The Real Madrid coach clarified that he didn’t believe Vinícius Jr. had fallen into a trap but had struggled to make an impact in the first half. “Sometimes it works out for him, sometimes it doesn’t. I hope he plays in the next match because he is a player who makes a difference for us,” Ancelotti added.
The missed penalty, which had caused frustration, was another point of discussion. Ancelotti explained that while Dimitrievski didn’t have his feet on the line, the penalty didn’t have to be retaken as the goalkeeper didn’t touch the ball. “We’ve missed three penalties, and I take responsibility for deciding who takes them,” said the coach, admitting that the situation had been bothersome.
One of the standout performers was Jude Bellingham, who continued his impressive form with a strong second-half performance. “He had a great game. The missed penalty motivated him, and he worked hard to support Mbappé up front. The goal was a reward for his performance,” Ancelotti praised the young midfielder.
The tactical changes made during the match also drew Ancelotti’s praise, especially the introduction of Eduardo Camavinga. “Mendy played well, and with Vinícius Jr. providing width, we needed Camavinga to play more centrally. Mendy had a good game overall,” Ancelotti concluded.
