Ancelotti praises Real Madrid's dominant display in victory over Girona in LaLiga
Real Madrid's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance following a convincing 3-0 victory against Girona in LaLiga on Saturday, especially after a series of underwhelming results.
The team entered the Montilivi stadium on the heels of a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao earlier in the week, which marked their fourth loss in the last seven matches across all competitions.
This triumph over Girona narrowed the gap to league leaders Barcelona to just two points, with Real holding a game in hand, thereby re-establishing their position in the title race despite ongoing scrutiny of key players such as Kylian Mbappe and a significant injury list that includes star player Vinicius Jr.
"(Jude) Bellingham has netted his fifth consecutive goal. He is back and performing well. Mbappe also scored today... We need to persevere; gradually, we are making progress," Ancelotti remarked during a press conference.
"We had to withstand some pressure at the start as Girona came out strong. However, we executed our game plan effectively and managed our lead well. The team displayed greater clarity and purpose. I believe the second half was particularly impressive."
Ancelotti also commended Arda Guler's contribution after the young Turkish player scored Real's second goal, showcasing a commendable performance despite limited opportunities this season.
"He struggled in the first half, but in the second half, he scored a remarkable goal," Ancelotti noted.
"What I want to emphasize is his effort. He works hard and supports the team. His goal alleviates some pressure on him. As a young player facing significant expectations, it is beneficial for him to relieve some of that burden."
The Spanish champions are now set to focus on the Champions League, where they will face Serie A leaders Atalanta on Tuesday, aiming to improve from their current position of 24th, which is the last qualifying spot for the knockout round playoffs.
Ancelotti indicated that he anticipates the return of Vinicius Jr. and his fellow Brazilian Rodrygo for the match in Bergamo.
SportsLigue