Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that his team was not sufficiently dominant to warrant a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, which was achieved through second-half penalties from Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Despite this, Ancelotti commended his players for their resilience and expressed pride in their ability to withstand the pressure from the home team, securing three essential points.
“It was a challenging match. We didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad really pressed us,” Ancelotti remarked during a press conference. “We held our ground, endured, and showed character and commitment. I value that greatly, as it’s not easy to find such commitment in a team filled with talent and quality, and today we displayed that.”
Ancelotti emphasized the need for self-reflection in order to improve, noting that securing the three points was a positive outcome. Currently, Real Madrid holds second place in the league with 11 points, just one behind Barcelona, who are scheduled to face fifth-placed Girona on Sunday.
The manager admitted that his team was facing challenges related to fatigue and performance levels, which is understandable given their busy schedule and the recent international break. He highlighted an improvement in Mbappe’s performance, noting that the French captain is beginning to adjust to his new club, having netted his third goal for Real on Saturday.
“We can discuss all the issues surrounding this match, but the main thing was to come away with a win,” Ancelotti added, despite missing midfielders Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
“We must acknowledge that we are not at full strength due to the injuries to four midfielders. I really appreciate the efforts of those who stepped up to play.”
Regarding Mbappe, Ancelotti stated, “I see him looking fresher and more active. He’s very dangerous and works well with Vinicius and the other forwards. His improvement is significant, and I was pleased with his performance.”
Next, Real Madrid will focus on defending their Champions League title, beginning with a match against Stuttgart at home on Tuesday.