Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team after winning 1-0 against Sevilla.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team and goalscorer Luka Modric, before addressing another Arda Guler snub, in interviews following a 1-0 win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu on Sunday night.
The victory re-opened an eight-point gap over bitter rivals FC Barcelona at the La Liga summit with their Catalan neighbours Girona set to play Monday evening.
Post-match in a flash interview, Ancelotti praised his men for fighting and competing “until the end”.
“We played with a high intensity until the end, we never lost control and we did it. We created a lot of chances and the goal ended up coming. It was deserved.”
Ancelotti was asked if his team played with “pride, character, personality” and answered that they instead did so with “everything”.
“The sacrifice was seen, in standing up to a very tough opponent. We took very few risks, prioritising balance, and that shows that we were in the game for 90 minutes.”
Modric brought the ball down excellently to then strike one of his best goals since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 deep into the second half.
Ancelotti called it a “great goal and great control” from the Croat, who “came on fresh and helped us a lot in this game”.
“It’s worth three points,” he added.
Then in a press conference, Ancelotti revealed that he and his players celebrated with Modric “because he deserved it, [and because] he scored a great goal”.
“When he came in he had freshness. It’s difficult to leave him on the bench, but he’s an example for the whole squad.”
“I think it’s in Luka’s hands what he wants to do and we just have to wait for his decision,” Ancelotti explained, on whether the 39-year-old will extend his contract beyond June 30 or not.
While Modric was handed a rare start, his usual fellow bench-warmer Arda Guler was again sent to warm up but still failed to make it onto the pitch.
“I had a thought before Modric’s goal and after the goal I changed [my mind]. It’s not that complicated and I don’t have to explain this. And if you don’t get it, that’s okay,” Ancelotti said bluntly to the media regarding the matter.
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