Ancelotti expects 'important cycle' for Madrid
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Article summary
Carlo Ancelotti said "an important cycle can start here" after Real Madrid CF's UEFA Super Cup win, with Sevilla FC's Unai Emery keen to praise the club's support in Cardiff.
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• Real Madrid CF coach Ancelotti on Super Cup win: "An important cycle can start here"
• Ancelotti praises match-winner Ronaldo and debutant Toni Kroos
• Valencia CF coach Unai Emery: "We lacked precision and aggression in attack"
• Emery explains Liverpool FC-bound Alberto Moreno's absence
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
I think an important cycle can start here as we have a squad of real quality. I am lucky to be coach of a fantastic squad. It is clear we have to work a lot and make sacrifices but the possibilities are there to do big things and compete in all competitions.
Our style has not change compared to last season – we can use the counterattack. It depends on how the game goes. Kroos played in the same position as Xabi Alonso with the same objective to pass the ball and when the chance arises, to use the speed of the forwards. It is not easy to improve this team, as we have a fantastic squad; I think the important thing is to use the whole squad.
Sevilla played as expected – defending and counterattacking. I think we covered them well and had balance on the pitch to counter their counterattacks.
Cristiano's performance was fantastic. He was the match winner, the best player on the pitch and won the match with two fantastic goals. He played really well. The whole team played a good game, especially considering we've not had much time to prepare. We had good control and Kroos played well; James [Rodríguez] had a few more difficulties but in the second half he did well like Kroos.
Unai Emery, Sevilla coach
We defended well, but in attack we lacked something extra – precision and aggression in front of their goal. Above all the difference was Madrid's counterattacks.
The fans pushed us on and I have to thank them for this unity with the team and support for us. They kept supporting us and at the end we came close to getting a goal. They understood that we competed – not with the precision we wanted but we competed, we tried.
If Alberto Moreno leaves another player will have to come and we also need another central midfielder. It's happened today and coincided with him being here ... it was not foreseen. We didn't expect it although we've been waiting almost two months [for the transfer]. Sevilla have had very important players who have left and Sevilla have carried on achieving things. Alberto Moreno, [Ivan] Rakitić ... we can talk about others too but Sevilla came back each time.