Carlo Ancelotti reflects on Real Madrid's Copa del Rey loss to Atletico Madrid

In a thrilling derby clash at the Civitas Metropolitano, Real Madrid's Copa del Rey journey came to an abrupt end, succumbing to a 4-2 defeat against rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday night.

The encounter unfolded as a tale of resilience and missed opportunities, with Carlo Ancelotti offering insights into the game, praising his team's efforts while reflecting on the decisive moments.

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid asserted their dominance from the start, leaving Real Madrid to play catch-up throughout the match. Despite pushing the game into extra time, a spectacular goal by Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme's finish sealed the fate for Real Madrid.

In the aftermath of the derby defeat, Ancelotti faced the media, acknowledging his team's commendable fight until the final whistle. Reflecting on the match, Ancelotti stated, "It is not easy to evaluate this match. We have played well, we have competed until the end, we have fought and recovered from the disadvantage twice."

While applauding Atletico's resilience, Ancelotti also acknowledged the physical disadvantage his team faced due to a shorter recovery period, stating, "We had a disadvantage with Atlético because they had a week to prepare for the game, and on a physical level, they had a little more."

When questioned about Real's defensive performance, Ancelotti admitted a disparity between La Liga and Copa del Rey, emphasizing the challenge posed by Atletico's goal-scoring prowess, especially at the Metropolitano.

The spotlight turned to Vinicius Jr, who had a mixed performance. Ancelotti defended the young talent, highlighting his positive contributions in the second half. "His match has been of a very good level, even if he has not scored. Little by little he will learn," Ancelotti commented.

As the game progressed, Atletico's physical presence and pressing game became more evident. Ancelotti, however, disputed claims of his team being inferior in duels, asserting, "In extra time, the game was controlled."

Ancelotti concluded by praising the young core of his team for their relentless pursuit of victory. "We have young people with extraordinary quality and who try it. The fact of trying has allowed us to win many games and recover today's," he remarked.

Real Madrid now face a two-week window to regroup and improve ahead of upcoming challenges. The derby defeat serves as a learning experience for Ancelotti's side, emphasizing the need for composure in crucial moments and capitalizing on opportunities to secure victories in future encounters.

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