Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team did not play well enough to warrant their 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, which was secured through second-half penalties from Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. Despite the win, Ancelotti praised his players for their resilience in facing intense pressure from the home team.
“It was a complicated match. We didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad pushed us really hard,” he stated during a press conference. “We held on and endured, demonstrating character and commitment. I value that greatly because it’s not easy to maintain commitment in a team filled with talent and quality, and we achieved that today.”
Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the result, although he acknowledged the need for self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement. “It’s a great opportunity for us to reflect on what we didn’t do well, but we gained three important points,” he added.
Following this win, Real Madrid remains in second place, now with 11 points, just one behind Barcelona, who will face fifth-placed Girona on Sunday.
The manager recognized that his team has been struggling with fatigue and inconsistent form, which he attributed to a packed schedule and the recent international break. He noted signs of improvement in Mbappe, who scored his third goal for the club, as the French captain is starting to find his groove in the team.
“We can talk about various issues regarding this match, but the key takeaway is that we secured the victory,” Ancelotti remarked, while noting his squad was missing four midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
“It’s natural that we aren’t operating at full capacity with those injuries. I appreciate the hard work of those who took the field. I see Mbappe looking fresher and more engaged. He poses a danger and coordinates effectively with Vinicius and the other forwards; he’s improving significantly, and I was impressed with his performance.”
Real Madrid will next focus on defending their Champions League title, starting Tuesday with a match against Stuttgart.