"We stayed true to our game plan and it worked out well"

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after his side's 3-1 victory in Saturday's Clasico.

The best of his side: "The effort. We didn't lose our heads after conceding the goal. We stayed true to our game plan and it all worked out well. I liked a lot of things about the team, the tempo was very high and we recovered well after the effort we put in on Wednesday."

Defensive improvement: "I always believed that our problems at the back are not to do with quality, but with hard work and sacrifice. I have a serious and professional team who know what it means to play for Real Madrid and what they have to put in."

The key: "That we wanted to attack, keeping possession and using the wings. In the second half we won because we wanted to win."

Isco's part in the third goal: "He worked tremendously well, but to beat Barcelona everybody needs to put in a shift. All of the players were at a very high level. And that is not easy after just two and a half days of rest after the Liverpool match."

Benzema: "I always say the same thing about him, but we can also talk about Isco, Cristiano, or Pepe, who scored the second goal. Benzema is plugged in, as all the players are.

What the victory means: "It was an important win because Barcelona are a very strong side. And we achieved our goal of narrowing the gap. We are very satisfied."

Jogo bonito: "That is the idea. The same as it was last year, although we still want to improve. The team has embraced the philosophy of playing in this way."

Have you hit the target? "We are in a good moment. I don't know if I've hit the nail on the head, because there will be tough moments ahead, but I believe that we can play this kind of football. I am proud of these players, because their professionalism is second-to-none."

Will Bale get back in the side? "Bale is a key player in this team and he will play, but I don't think down the lines of only having 11 important players. This is good for the squad as a whole."

Hitting the heights: "The physical aspect is very important; we showed that against Liverpool and today. But it's more than just fitness. Mentally, also, the team are sure about what they have to do."

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1uVSK4u

via IFTTT