Ancelotti talks refereeing decision, Endrick, Courtois, Tchouameni after Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media following his team’s draw against Atletico Madrid.

Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, emphasising that securing a point in such a competitive match was ultimately a positive outcome.

Although Real Madrid came close to winning, he acknowledged that Atletico Madrid are a strong side and that a draw, while disappointing, was not a bad result.

One of the key moments in the match involved a brief interruption when the referee temporarily suspended play due to objects being thrown from the stands.

Ancelotti remained calm about the situation, noting that the referee had handled it well by instructing both teams to go to the locker room for a short break.

“The referee did well. We sorted out a few things in the dressing room. Nobody liked it because everyone wanted to play, but the referee did well,” said the manager as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

The Italian manager didn’t dwell on the incident, instead focusing on the importance of staying composed during such disruptions.

“The referee told us that they had thrown lighters and that we had to go to the locker room to rest,” he added.

Atletico Madrid’s performance

Reflecting on the late goal by Atletico’s Angel Correa, which denied Real Madrid the win, Ancelotti admitted it was frustrating to concede so late, especially when his team was so close to securing three points.

“It’s a different draw because we were very close to winning the match. You have to appreciate that the opponent is very strong although it’s a shame that they scored at the last minute. We were close,” noted the manager.

However, he emphasised that Real Madrid will continue to fight and stay focused, noting that taking a point from the league leaders is still a positive result.

“We will continue fighting, we are not desperate and I think it could be a good point for the future. In fact, I think it is positive to take a point off the leader. We are in good dynamics and we are already thinking about the Champions League.”

Thoughts about the changes

When asked about his tactical decisions, Ancelotti stood by his substitutions, saying that it was logical to make defensive changes when holding a lead.

“I don’t regret the changes and it’s logical when you have an advantage to defend. We did very well but we have to admit that they leaked a good ball and could have scored against us,” he explained.

He praised the team for their overall defensive effort but acknowledged that Atlético Madrid found a way through in the final moments.

He also pointed out that both teams were focused on controlling the game and defending well, which was the main objective for Real Madrid after learning from last season’s derby defeat.

“The game was marked by two teams that wanted to control the game and defend well. Our objective was to defend better than we did in last season’s derby.”

Endrick’s shot

Ancelotti was briefly questioned about an incident involving young striker Endrick, who chose to shoot rather than pass to a better-positioned teammate.

The manager downplayed the situation, suggesting it wasn’t a major issue, though he admitted Endrick could have made a different decision.

“It seems to me a different play to the one against Stuttgart. It is true that he could have passed the ball to Bellingham but I don’t see it as an atomic drama.” 

Additionally, Ancelotti mentioned that Courtois experienced some muscle discomfort and will undergo medical tests to assess the extent of his injury.

“He has felt some discomfort and will undergo tests tomorrow”

He ended by praising Aurelien Tchouameni’s defensive performance, reaffirming his faith in the young player, while keeping the focus on the future challenges awaiting Real Madrid.

“Tchouameni has played very well on the defensive side,” noted Ancelotti.