“It was a complete attacking display. For a long time, we had doubts about our balance, but the players proved that with sacrifice, it is possible. The team’s quality is unquestionable,” he said.
However, Ancelotti remains cautious ahead of the second leg at the Bernabéu.
“The result is a trap because we won, and we might lower our guard. But we need to prepare in the same way, with the same quality and sacrifice as tonight,” he warned.
The Italian coach was very pleased with Real Madrid’s attitude.
“This is the right path to follow. The season is starting to get serious, and despite the difficulties, we managed to start well. The result is very positive. Our four defenders had never played or trained together, yet they were spectacular. Tchouaméni, who has faced a lot of criticism, played exceptionally well. Valverde and Mendy performed brilliantly. Asensio is impressing with his maturity. Even in an emergency, we managed to take something positive from it,” he highlighted.
Missed Chances
Ancelotti reiterated his satisfaction with the result.
“We couldn’t secure qualification here. We took a small advantage; it was a great game for us, and we must be happy with the result. We had many chances, but City created problems for us. We need to prepare well for the second leg. A match like this gives us confidence,” he stated.
“I believe the victory was deserved. City took the lead through a penalty, but our front four were very effective. They could have been even more clinical, but they created a lot with movement and quality,” Ancelotti concluded.