Ancelotti talks Vazquez, Bellingham, Vinicius, Guler, Xavi after Real Madrid 3-2 Barcelona | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction following Real Madrid’s 3-2 win against Barcelona last night.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, the coach emphasized the significance of securing three crucial points against their rivals during a week of intense physical effort where they also played Manchester City.

He appeared taken aback by the uproar surrounding referee Soto Grado’s decisions, acknowledging the controversial actions that provoked criticism from Barcelona fans.

“I don’t think about Xavi’s words, everyone has their own opinion,” said the manager as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“For me, it is not a goal because there is no clear image. And as for the penalty, I have seen the play and it seems quite clear,” he added.

On Vazquez, Bellingham, Vinicius and Guler

Lucas Vazquez was the hero of the match, with the Spaniard not only getting on the scoresheet but also assisting the winner and drawing a penalty.

Speaking about his impact, the manager pressed on the importance of the player, saying that his presence helps the team a lot.

“He is a very important player, not only for what he did today but for the entire season.

Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham were on the scoresheet against Barcelona. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

“He competes with Carvajal, who I think is one of the best full-backs in the world, and has made the difference today as in many other games.

“Carvajal could play, but there are players who are very good now, like Lucas or Modric. They help us a lot in this sense, after immense wear and tear like Wednesday,” said the manager.

On the other hand, Jude Bellingham finally ended his goalscoring drought last night. It must be noted that the England international last scored a goal against Girona in early February.

He went on a six-match goalscoring drought, something that came to an end against Barcelona.

“He [Bellingham] arrived at the right time, he played the game with a lot of effort, working hard. Now this goal could be fundamental to winning the league,” said the manager.

Ancelotti also talked about the incident involving Vinicius Jr after it emerged that the Brazilian was not happy with his substitution. Speaking about it, the manager said,

“He didn’t like the change, he wanted to continue. The effort from the forwards has been tremendous, taking into account what happened at the Etihad.

“We ask them to defend, work for the team, they are very fast, they always attack the depth… They wear themselves out a lot. I understand you, I wanted to continue, but we needed fresh legs.”

Lastly, the manager also assured that Arda Guler, who has played less than 100 minutes this season, will now get his chance.

“Now we will calmly evaluate everything. Guler will now have the minutes he wants,” said the manager.

Ancelotti’s thoughts on the league and man management

Real Madrid currently enjoy a stellar 11-point lead at the top of the table, effectively winning La Liga this season. When asked about the same, the manager said,

“It is a very important step that we have taken. We have a big advantage, but we cannot give up, we have to score more points, and we have to prepare for the Champions League semi-final.”

Carlo Ancelotti was happy with his side’s performance against Barcelona. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

He also suggested that although the team is now closer to the title, the players need rest considering the upcoming matches.

“Yes, much closer. We have other games. Now we need to rest well because it has been a very demanding, but unforgettable week.”

It has been an unforgettable week for Real Madrid as they got the better of Manchester City in Barcelona in just five days.

Ancelotti needs a special mention for his man management and when asked about the same, the Italian explained,

“We are trying to recover as best as possible, some have not been able to recover yet, like Nacho or Mendy, and we have given them rest.

“The best way to prepare for the season is to keep winning and starting on Friday. It’s a difficult game. To prepare well for the semi-final we have to do well on Friday,” he said.

Lastly, the Real Madrid manager also revealed the approach he took to get the better of Barcelona last night.

“We have tried to repeat what we did in the last games against Barcelona. Obviously, we have tried to push higher. Afterwards, there was a lack of success.

“Sometimes the start from behind has been good, other times not. It was a game as it should be, and we did well. It has been a spectacular, unforgettable week.

“We have done very well, it couldn’t be done better. Very few thought about it, but as usual, we have not given up,” he explained.