“We could have done better with Mbappé”

REAL MADRID: CARLO ANCELOTTI on…

… the important 3-2 win against Atalanta Bergamo on matchday 6 in the premier class: “It’s a very important victory, not everyone wins here. It was an even game, we suffered and fought and it was exactly the kind of game we expected. Our offensive players changed positions very well at the front in order to free themselves a little from the man’s coverage. Viní, Bellingham, Mbappé, until he had to leave the field, created a lot of chances. In the end we suffered but deserved to win. In the Champions League you have to suffer.”

… the opponent’s performance: “Atalanta is a team that demands a lot from you. They are very quick, have a clear idea and know exactly how to prepare a game. It was a very tough game and we won a few, especially at the beginning. But the movement in the front third was particularly important. In the end it paid off and we are very satisfied.”

… the mental factor of this victory: “It’s not just three points, it strengthened us mentally. If we go into the Christmas break like this, things will go well in the second half of the season. Some players are coming back. Viní played again today, Rodrygo is back, Camavinga will be back. We have to hold on until Christmas.”

… Kylian Mbappé’s injury: “Kylian has problems in the back of his thigh, it’s an overload. It doesn’t seem like anything serious, but we’ll see about it tomorrow. He couldn’t sprint any more and that’s why we took him out instead.”

…the approach after Mbappé’s substitution: “He started very well, scored a fantastic goal and had another great chance. Like I said, the key was movement up front. In the second half, Viní rotated a lot to lure the opponent out of his position. We made it 3-1 with Vini and Bellingham swapping positions. Mbappé would have contributed more, that’s also because Rodrygo simply wasn’t at 100 percent yet. Of course he gave everything, but with Mbappé at 100 percent, we could have done even better.”

… the challenge of finishing in the top eight with a current 18th place: “It is still very complicated, but we still have two games and the goal is clear: we have to win both.”

… the continued high number of injuries: “The calendar is very tight. We have a very reduced squad which means we can’t rotate much, so we just have to hold on at the moment. We can’t do any more.”

… more rotations when all players are fit again to reduce the risk of injury: “Of course we will have more competition again, which will enable us to rotate more. But what will never change is that I always try to put together the best team to win the games. Today, for example, Ceballos stood out for me. He played a fantastic game and I really liked it.”

… the mistakes of the past games as motivation: “I think after the game against Osasuna the team became more solid and showed more commitment again. Although we lost two games against strong opponents, the team never gave the feeling of being lost. This victory will help us a lot in that regard, because this victory comes from commitment and of course our quality.”

… relief after the high pressure before the game: “This win is a breath of fresh air as it allows us to prepare for the upcoming Champions League games and hopefully we can field a different team with more players in January. We are much more relaxed today than yesterday.”