Ancelotti: “We have an amazing bench”

In his post-match press conference, Carlo Ancelotti was very happy with the impact made by his substitutes after Real Madrid defeated Sevilla

Were you surprised that Jorge Sampaoli started with so many midfielders? “No, we thought he’d do exactly that, that they’d try to control the game. We played well in the first half, pressing high up the pitch. The second was tougher. At 1-1, it looked as if they were more in control but we were able to win the game thanks to a few decisive passages of pay. We played well.”

Is the entire roster the main strength of this Real Madrid rather than just the starting line-up? “I want to praise the players who came off the bench tonight. Camavinga, Lucas Vázquez, Asensio. Also Vinícius, who gifted two open goals to his teammates. That’s worth much more than a goal and I said that to him, he should be even happier with himself than if he’d scored. It shows great humility.”

How far can Vinícius go? “He’s playing at a very high standard and he needs continuity. But it’s not easy because you use up a lot of energy when you’re always taking players on. To keep progressing, he’s got to work on that.”

Overall analysis. “I think that we were really good at winning the ball back in the first half and we dropped off in that area in the second. When we conceded the goal, we lost confidence. The substitutions gave the team extra energy and some confidence back. The counterattack for the second goal, with Asensio and Vinícius, was spectacular.”

Benzema and Valverde fitness updates.“Valverde got a kick on the leg, we’ll need to wait and see. Karim will be available again next Sunday.”

The reaction to Sevilla’s equaliser “The substitutions really helped the team. The players who came off played really well. We’ve got an amazing bench with a great attitude. They can make a difference. We’ve got a really healthy roster. Right now, we can’t look too far ahead, we’ve just got to keep going. It’s a very demanding period.”

The roster “I like coaching this group of players, they don’t give me any trouble. They’re very respectful. It’s one of the best I’ve had, if not the best.”

Should Benzema be rested more given his fitness problems this season? “Karim is a very important player for us. We’ve been able to replace such an important player. That means he’ll be even more important in the second half of the season.”

His bet with Valverde (Ancelotti said he would retire is the Uruguayan didn’t score at least 10 goals this season) “We need to keep in mind that he only scored one goal last year. I took a big risk. He’s a very responsible person and he’s doing really well. I rarely make bets with players. I don’t normally do it.”

Benzema has missed six matches this season. Is that a worry? “We’re not worried, it’s just a minor injury. He’s healthy and motivated, he’s still hugely important to us.”

Valverde-mania – fans were chanting that he’s a future Ballon d’Or winner. “Let’s not get too carried away. In the future, he just needs to be himself.”

The importance of Marco Asensio. “He’s a great player. He’s really making the most of the few minutes that I’m giving him. Along with Vinícius, he made the difference tonight.”

Vinícius being targeted. “It’s normal, he’s a very dangerous player. He takes players on often, so it’s normal. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t. The best players always get marked more closely.”