MADRID, 13 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, praised the performance of the Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in Leipzig and pointed out that “it gives him confidence” that “he is playing” as a starter in events like this Tuesday in the first leg of the round of 16. final in the Champions League.
“He is very motivated and has a lot of confidence. Obviously the fact that he is playing gives him confidence. The match he played has been outstanding because in all situations he has done very well,” said Ancelotti after the merengue victory (0-1 ) against RB Leipzig.
Then the Italian coach highlighted Brahim Díaz. “When he returned after two years in Milan, I saw him more powerful, stronger, with more character and personality. Then he started the season without playing many minutes, but when he had the opportunity he always contributed and showed his level “, he indicated in this regard.
“Now his level is a level where you can see that he has a lot of confidence in what he is doing. He has scored a spectacular, incredible goal; as always, he has contributed. Obviously the goal must be highlighted, as well as the work he has done with everyone the others. The work has been hard, difficult, but the team was focused and held on until the end,” argued Ancelotti in the press room at the Red Bull Arena.
Likewise, the Madrid coach praised Aurélien Tchouameni in his role as a center back. “He has understood very well what the team needs at this moment. It is a position that he is covering in a spectacular way,” he commented. “He is strong in the aerial ball, he is strong in duels, he is intelligent in possession. So he can play in that position as well as he can play as a pivot,” he stressed.
“The squad has a good attitude, commitment and quality. I really liked how we also defended against a team that usually has to suffer at home,” said Ancelotti, without an iota of concern about the disallowed goal against Leipzig in the minute 2.
Both in the interview on the field for Movistar Plus+ and later in the same press room, the merengue coach reiterated that Benjamin Henrichs' positional offside had bothered the Real Madrid goalkeeper enough, despite the fact that the team player German was not in his field of vision or in the trajectory of the ball
“We suffered just enough. We could have scored more, yes, and we could also have conceded. So we came out happy considering that it is a small advantage, but we will have to take advantage of our stadium in the return,” Ancelotti concluded.