Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory over Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday, but the performance left manager Carlo Ancelotti with mixed emotions. Despite the win, the team’s display in the first half was far from convincing.
Ancelotti highlighted the lackluster performance of starters like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo, but expressed delight with the contributions of substitutes Brahim Diaz and Endrick. The duo came off the bench to secure the points with late goals, after Federico Valverde had broken the deadlock in the 50th minute.
“The taste of a win is always good,” Ancelotti said in a post-match press conference. “When we win a game I have to be happy, taking into account the difficulties we had, especially in the first half when we were slow and soft.”
He continued, “We were better after the break, with much more mobility and speed in possession. I am very happy that those who come off the bench and take advantage of the few minutes they have.”
Ancelotti admitted the decision of choosing starting lineups is a tough one. “Setting the line-up is always complicated, it bothers me, it makes me a bit sad although it’s my responsibility,” he said. “I’m the one who has to choose the eleven players that start the match.”
The manager also expressed concern about the lack of responsibility from his starters, especially in the intense Spanish summer heat. “Bearing in mind that in this period of the season, in the heat, it is expected that players get tired. So it would be right that when a player is tired, he should raise his hand and ask to leave, but in my 40 years in football it has never happened.”
Ancelotti stressed that it is his responsibility to determine when players need a rest, but ultimately, he believes his players should take more initiative in this regard. “I think the players have to be more responsible with that. I say it here because I have said it to them privately. I have a lot of resources to use in this squad.”
Regarding Mbappe’s struggles to find his scoring touch, Ancelotti remained calm and confident. “Mbappe is a spectacular striker, very quick, he moves very well without the ball, he attacks the back, he has had three or four chances today.” He dismissed concerns about changing Mbappe’s position, stating, “In this position he is going to score as he has always scored. He doesn’t need to play on the left or in the centre… in the end, he will score goals, wait and see.”
While the team’s performance wasn’t perfect, Ancelotti’s focus remains on the victory, and the manager is confident in his team’s ability to gel and find their rhythm as the season progresses.
