Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, praised the performance of rising Brazilian forward Endrick, who led the team to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
Real Madrid achieved an exciting 5-2 victory over their guests, Celta Vigo, late Thursday evening in the round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Despite leading 2-0, Real Madrid conceded two late goals from Celta Vigo, resulting in a 2-2 draw and necessitating extra time. During the 30-minute extra time, divided into two halves, the home team secured their advancement to the quarterfinals, with Endrick scoring twice and Uruguayan Federico Valverde adding another goal for the hosts.
Ancelotti stated in the post-match press conference: "When the match was about to end, we conceded two goals, and the game opened up. We played well until the 70th minute, and we scored a third goal, but it was offside. The team reacted well in extra time. In the end, everything turned out fine."
The Real Madrid coach added in remarks reported on the club's official website: "The second goal came from low pressing. We came out poorly from the back, despite good positioning. We’ve trained to avoid this type of error."
Ancelotti emphasized: "Endrick showcased his quality. He’s a striker who capitalizes on opportunities in and around the box. Arda Güler joined the match during a challenging moment and displayed his character. He worked hard for the team."
Speaking about French star Kylian Mbappé, Ancelotti said: "He’s back to his best form, playing very well, scoring goals, and making constant passes. He’s helped us during this period and will continue to do so in upcoming matches."
Regarding French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, the Italian coach commented: "He’s a player with a strong personality and has helped the team defensively. He recovered many balls, supported his teammates, pressed hard, and assisted Luka Modrić and Dani Ceballos in building play."
Ancelotti also explained why he substituted Brazilian VinÃcius Júnior: "Vinà was tired. He was decisive in attack alongside Mbappé. I replaced him because Rodrygo was fresher, and I wanted to take advantage of that."
The experienced coach emphasized: "We performed better defensively. The two goals we conceded resulted from individual errors, but on a collective level, the team played better."
When asked about a penalty claim from Celta Vigo during the match, Ancelotti replied: "I didn’t see it, so I don’t know what to say. The VAR and the referee discussed it and made their decision. Perhaps it was a penalty, but I don’t know. I can’t tell if the decision was right or wrong because I didn’t see the play."
This victory helps Real Madrid regain some balance after their heavy 2-5 defeat against archrivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final last Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
