Real Madrid ate up Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with three mouthfuls of Benzema, magnificent by scoring a hat-trick and giving a new football teaching. It was also a lesson from Ancelotti, who put Valverde’s legs in the eleven and knew how to blow up Tuchel’s board. However, the Italian coach was very cautious when he spoke to the media. First in the flash interview and then in the press room.
What makes you more satisfied, winning or how it was won: “What makes me most satisfied is the courage we’ve had. The ball output was very good and then we took advantage of players like Vinicius or Benzema, who were having their ideal night. This is the first part of the tie and there’s to have respect for Chelsea. Zero trust.”
Personal bet for Valverde: “With that we have fixed Azpilicueta to prevent him from tipping over. By staying down, Valverde ended up playing as a winger”.
Kroos great match: “The entire start has been perfect, since Courtois. The approach was that because with the balls between the lines we knew we could do damage”.
What else can be said about Benzema: “He is a footballer whose goals stand out, but he does much more. He moves a lot and that makes it difficult to score.”
Attitude seeks: “I think that Chelsea, due to Madrid, has not shown its best version tonight. The tie is not over and football changes a lot. Calm down”.
In Amazon Prime: “Before the game, Benzema couldn’t find his accreditation to enter the stadium. I told him to be quick or he wouldn’t be able to play. Luckily, he found it. How would I define him? I have no words. I would say the great Karim”.
Ancelotti then appeared at a press conference. He appeared smiling and greeted two Chelsea workers.
How are you? How have you been these last few days? Are you one of the winners of this match?: “I feel fine. I had practically no symptoms. I’ve come back and I’ve seen a fantastic team. We played a very good game, planned well, with courage and personality. We want to propose the same party the return. We took advantage, nothing more”.
Tuchel says that the tie is not alive. Do you think the same? “We have an advantage, this is obvious, but the tie is wide open. Without the double away rule it gives an advantage to Chelsea, a team we respect a lot. Madrid has been better, but there is another game”.
Valverde, fourth midfielders. He liked it? Do you listen to your footballers?: “We play with the same system. The only thing, Valverde I have put it to fix the position of the left lane a little more and have Carvajal more inside to control Pulisic and Mount. Valverde has done very well. Sometimes I can think of doing the line of five. Everything depended on the Azpilicueta line. I don’t listen to the players. I can speak and speaking of football I understand what they think and what they would like. Then I have to make the decisions alone. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you are not”.
Is Benzema getting better every day?: “Every day is better, like wine. He is a player who has more leadership every day, he feels more important in the team and the squad. This is what makes the difference in him, this personality. He has exemplary behavior for everyone.”
With this intensity can you beat anyone? What are you most satisfied with? “The most important thing has been the courage that the players have had. The key was that we came out very well from behind with the ball. From there we have attacked very well, Vinicius and Benzema were very dangerous, they both made very good combinations. You can compete with anyone, yes.”
Did you need a triumph like this to silence certain doubts?: “No. Doubt is a part of the coach’s job. He is a questionable figure. The coach is responsible for the defeat and the players are the winners of the victory. This is football.”
The injured: “Valverde and Benzema have been changed due to fatigue. Militao had a blow to the hip in the first half and then a knee sprain. Nothing serious, but he couldn’t finish the match”.
Do you think that the institutional instability affected the Chelsea players?: “I do not know. I still think it’s a fantastic team with a fantastic manager. The next game will be tough for us”.