Carlo Ancelotti appeared in the press room of the National Stadium in Warsaw, where real Madrid faced Atalanta in the final of the European Super Cup. The coach said: “I am very happy. It is an honour and a privilege to coach this team and we did well today. In the first half it was a difficult game because Atalanta played very well. They were very tough in the tackles and we had difficulties. But as soon as the game opened up a bit, you could see the quality we have up front.”
‘Mbappe has incredible quality. He worked well, combined with his teammates and worked hard in defense. The team did not play well in the first half, but they worked very well in defense and that was the most important thing. When the spaces opened up, it was easier for us. All the offensive players like Bellingham, Wine And Rodrigo contributed. The team played very well in the second half.’
Gasperini
“I congratulated him on their game. I told him that playing against Atalanta is like going to the dentist. They were very tough in the tackles and when they slowed down, we had more space and were able to take the lead.”
Team 2014 vs. Team 2024
“I spoke to the staff about it yesterday and compared it to the 2014 team, but it’s very complicated. In 2014, the team with Cristiano, Benzema and Bale was fantastic; it was an exceptional attacking line. What doesn’t change at this club is the quality of the team. We had it in 2014 and we have it again 10 years later.”
midfield
‘Bellingham, Valverde And Choameni did a great job. It was a very different game with a lot of tackles and one-on-one situations; it was difficult to look for superiority. We thought about playing more vertically and playing balls backwards. The first half didn’t go well, but after that we had a lot of space and more chances. All three played very well, especially defensively, and gave the team balance at the back.’
Team balance
“The hardest thing is to find a good balance with the quality we have in attack. We hope for a good season, we have a fantastic squad and we will find that balance.”
Camavinga
“I had doubts that he would play, but unfortunately he was injured. I hope he recovers quickly because he is very important for us. He could have played, but he was injured and could not play.”
Alaba
“He is making good progress, working individually and the knee is responding well. We have to take it easy because it was a serious injury. We think he will start running in the next few days and hopefully be ready to play again soon.”