Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in his team's performance despite a tense 3-2 victory over Deportivo Alaves at home on Tuesday in La Liga. Goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo secured the win for Real, though Carlos Benavidez and Kike Garcia scored late in the game for Alaves in the 88th and 89th minutes respectively. Despite the late surge, Real managed to hold on, having dominated most of the match.
Ancelotti focused on the positives, commending his team's ability to take a three-goal lead and create numerous opportunities to widen the margin. 'This is football, and when you think the game is over, you get distracted and allow your opponent to score, which boosts their confidence while shaking yours. It's a common occurrence in football and won't stop happening,' Ancelotti told reporters. 'Of course, we don't want it to happen, but we must emphasize that for over 80 minutes, our team played exceptionally well, which gives us confidence moving forward.'
The manager highlighted the team's improvement, noting their effective play for over an hour, seeking opportunities through various methods. 'The team is improving, which is good for us given the demanding schedule. Sunday's game against Atletico Madrid will also be very challenging,' he added.
Real Madrid remains unbeaten in nine games across all competitions this season, currently second in La Liga with 17 points, one point behind leaders Barcelona who have a game in hand. Real's next challenge is against Atletico Madrid, who are fourth with 12 points and will face Celta Vigo before hosting Real on Sunday.
Ancelotti also praised the progress of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, who combined well for Mbappe's goal. 'Mbappe is performing excellently, and our attack is doing really well,' Ancelotti said. 'Bellingham is growing; he provided the assist for Mbappe and had a very complete game. He needs to adapt to playing more inside the box, as he did last year. It's more challenging against a team with a low block like Alaves. What I ask of Bellingham is to do that kind of work, not necessarily to score goals. With the players we have, we can score at any moment.'
