Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti guided Real Madrid to a thrilling 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, after his team overturned a deficit to stage a remarkable comeback.
Speaking to the Spanish newspaper Marca after the game, Ancelotti highlighted the crucial role that calmness and focus played in turning the match around.
« At halftime, we were calm. We changed our playing style and focused more. We weren’t at our best in the first half, but we delivered our best second-half performance of the season, » Ancelotti said.
The standout aspect of the match was the brilliant performance of Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior, who scored a hat-trick that led the team to victory.
Speaking about Vinícius’ performance, Ancelotti added, « It’s rare to see a player deliver that level in just one half. It’s not just about the hat-trick, but also his strong character. He’s an extraordinary player. »
Commenting on Vinícius’ future, Ancelotti stated, « Vini will win the Ballon d’Or, not just for what he did tonight, but for what he’s accomplished over the past year. Tonight’s goals will boost his chances in the upcoming Ballon d’Or race. »
Ancelotti also spoke about the team’s tactics, emphasizing that the players’ behavior was key: « We started the game with less focus, which allowed the opponent to dominate slightly. However, we were able to bounce back thanks to hard work and tactical changes in the second half. »
