Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, commented on his team’s performance in the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the “El Clasico” La Liga.
Ancelotti said in statements after the match: “We played a good game, and we deserve to win. There is the goal that was canceled for us as well. We are confident that this football season will end well.”
He added, “We had good possession of the ball, and in my personal opinion, I consider that Real Madrid won the match,” according to the Spanish newspaper “AS”.
Regarding the team’s playing style, Ancelotti said: “The right wing gave us more freedom, and the attack focused more on the left. The changes gave the team momentum.”
Regarding Asensio’s canceled goal, Ancelotti said: “This offside is not entirely clear. I have doubts about the cancellation of this goal. We lost the match because of that.”
Ancelotti concluded by saying: “The end of the dream of winning La Liga? The priority is to prepare well for all the remaining matches. I leave this match feeling very proud of my team. The match was very good, and we will fight until the end of all competitions with great confidence.”
Substitute Frank Casey scored a stoppage-time goal to snatch the “Blaugrana” 2-1 victory over its rivals, the “Merengue” at Camp Nou, taking a big step towards winning the Spanish First Division title.
Barcelona, the leaders, widened the difference to 12 points with Real, the defending champions and second-placed, 12 rounds before the end of the competition.
Coach Ancelotti’s team squandered its early lead with the goal of defender Ronald Araujo by mistake, so the hosts equalized before the break through Sergi Roberto.
Real believed that he had advanced 2-1 with a late goal by substitute Marco Asensio, but it was canceled after the intervention of the video assistant referee system, before Casey successfully counterattacked in the last moments.