Carlo Ancelotti was the living face of fatigue after the match: “We won with the last drop of energy of a week that was unforgettable. It was a tremendous effort taking into account the last match.”
Asked about the refereeing, Ancelotti believes that the referee was right in the two controversial plays: “Barcelona’s goal was not a goal because there is no image to show that it went in and the penalty against Lucas Vázquez was clear. That Barcelona deserved to win must be see it. I think the draw was fair and the tie was not bad for us.”
The coach showed his joy for the victory: “I prefer to say that it was an even and competitive match.” He also spoke of Vinícius’ anger at being substituted: “He didn’t like the change, he spoke, he wanted to continue. But the effort they have made, especially the forwards, has been tremendous, also taking into account the last game. We ask them to defend and work for the team, but they are the ones who do the most distance in speed, and that uses up a lot of energy. I understand that I wanted to continue but it was necessary to get fresh legs.
Ancelotti highlighted the value of the season: “It has been a spectacular season given all the problems we have had, especially physical.”
Luka Modric was one of the first players to speak to the media: “This victory has a lot of merit. We come from a tough game, 120 minutes with physical and mental exhaustion. But once again we showed that this team is physically and mentally well, especially playing in home with the public like today… With them like this everything is easier. You have to continue until the end.”
For Modric, the victory does not give the League, but it brings it a lot closer: “It was incredible, a victory that brings us closer to what we want. It was a great night, a great team game, we never stopped believing. We were there twice behind, but we kept insisting, playing well, pressing and in the end we came back again and again. It’s a great night, like many at the Bernabéu.”
