Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Perez spoke for the press after the Copa del Rey triumph. They have been the architects of these successful campaigns of Real Madrid. With the victory in CdR Real Madrid lifts the 3rd trophy for this season and nothing is over yet as Madridistas are among the last 4 teams remaining in UCL. Both of them praised the team play and sacrifices in all of these tough gamnes and of course the performance of the players as individuals. They said Copa del Rey is a very important trophy for this club. Having this trophy missing for 9 years made everyone at Madrid even more motivated to win.
Carlo Ancelotti had the following to say: "It was a final played in a wonderful atmosphere, against very strong opposition. We struggled at times but we deserved to win it. Not just because of today but also due to the path we have taken in the competition, overcoming very good teams and earning this title. We played really well for the first half an hour, Vini Jr. was unstoppable. Then I don't know what happened and I calmed him down a bit. This team needs to do one thing, and one thing only: play good football. Anything else is a loss of control and concentration. We didn't start the second half well, we struggled a bit and they levelled, but fortunately Rodrygo changed the course of the game”.
Every possible trophy in two seasons: “All I can do is thank this squad, this club and these fans. Tonight we achieved something hugely significant, winning every possible trophy in two years. Now we're preparing for a big game on Tuesday and we're heading into it with morale sky high, we're happy and excited. I'm delighted right now but I'm very tired. Tomorrow we'll realise all we've achieved over these two seasons”.
First leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Manchester City: “We're going to compete and fight because we're so close to another final. We'll try to do everything we can to play in another final. We're well up for Tuesday. We know that at the Bernabeu they'll push us and in the first leg we have the advantage of 12 against 11”.
Militão: “I spoke to him to tell Alaba to stay back and be compact. We did well at the back and better than we've done in recent games”.
Praise for Rodrygo: “Nobody knows just how far he can go. He's a very elegant player, who's movement is amazing and he scores goals. He's progressing spectacularly”.
About Camavinga play in midfield in the game vs City: “That's a possibility that we have to weigh up over the next few days because he's also been doing well at full-back, but he's more used to playing as an anchor-man and does a better job”.
Tchouameni: “We were under the cosh because they were pressing us well and we were slow at the start. I switched him to try to get the ball out from the back more quickly”.
President Florentino Perez assessed the game in the following terms, also finding praising words for the opposition: "I'd like to take the chance to congratulate Osasuna on their season. They made things very difficult for us tonight, as everyone could see, because they really do give it their all. That's worthy of underlining. I'd like to congratulate their president and the players because they've had a spectacular season and they made it very tough”.
He added: “You're happy whenever you win a title. It was a very hard-fought Copa del Rey. We started out with Cacereño, who already fought tooth and nail, then it was Villarreal, Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona, it was not an easy route to the final. Osasuna were unbelievable today, they gave it everything they had and now I value it even more highly”.
The importance of the Copa: “The Copa del Rey is hugely important for us because we played against the best players in Spain. It's worthy of great credit because everyone give it all they have. Trophies are won through lots of hard work and sacrifice”.
The demands of Real Madrid: “That is what I inherited from Santiago Bernabéu. He showed us that you have to fight to the end for every possible trophy and all I do is try to live up to the very high standards he set”.
Togetherness: “We're used to winning trophies almost every season. We have a very good team, it's very much united, very madridista and that's clear out on the pitch. We're enjoying a very beautiful period”.
On Rodrygo: “He's very good. He's really young and he'll give us madridistas many more years of joy yet. He and Vinicius are amazing. They're so young, which means we have over a decade to keep enjoying them”.
Vini Jr.: “He's the best in his position in the world. Every time he gets the ball, everyone stops to see what he's going to do. It really is difficult to stop him and generally, the guys who have to mark him foul him a lot. He complains and he gets carded, so I don't understand that. We have to defend the players who put on a show, who bring joy to football”.
The calendar: “This gives us huge strength, the problem is, they don't give us any time to rest. I don't know who sets the calendar but they should really take a look at themselves. It's unacceptable. I'd like to let whoever is deciding it know, we cannot play with under three days between games. We'll be tired but we'll give it everything we have as well”.
On the tie against City: “I'm sure Guardiola will have watched today's game, as is his job. He's a great coach and he has some wonderful players. It will be a hard-fought tie, as ever when two teams come up against each other. I'd dare say they are the two best”.
Confidence: “This gives us real strength. I'm sure that winning today will give us a huge morale boost for Tuesday's game”.
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