Carlo Ancelotti reflects on Real Madrid's Copa del Rey victory over Betis

The match, which took place on Thursday, saw goals from Kylian Mbappe in the 37th minute, followed by Vinicius Junior right after halftime at the 48th.

However, Betis fought back with late strikes from Jonathan Bamba (83rd) and Marcos Alonso (91st), pushing the game into extra time. There, Real Madrid's dominance was sealed with goals by Endrick in the 108th and 119th minutes, and Federico Valverde in the 112th.

Real Madrid's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, reflected on the match, emphasizing the importance of advancing in the cup despite the struggles. "We've given away two goals almost at the end. We played well until the 70th minute and could have sealed the game. But the extra time was good, the players reacted well, and everything turned out fine," Ancelotti said.

Addressing the unexpected turn of events, Ancelotti admitted there was a dip in tension. "It's clear this shouldn't happen, and we work to avoid these mistakes and to set the pace until the end," he commented.

On the performances of young stars Endrick and Arda Guler, Ancelotti was complimentary. "Endrick has shown his quality; he has an extraordinary shot. Guler also came into the game and showed character. Regarding whether I've been unfair to Endrick, I don't need to repeat what he has said," Ancelotti explained.

The potential penalty before Madrid's first goal was another talking point. "I haven't seen it; I don't know what to say," was Ancelotti's brief response.

The crowd's whistles aimed at both Aurelien Tchouameni and Ancelotti himself were acknowledged as a wake-up call. "It's a reminder from the fans, which is acceptable, especially after what happened against Barca. But we reacted well after that," Ancelotti noted.

Concerning the VAR's decision not to intervene on the penalty incident, Ancelotti said, "I think they talked and made this decision. It might have been a penalty; I truly haven't seen the play. They made this decision."

Ancelotti also recognized the pressure from the Bernabeu crowd, stating, "The Bernabeu whistled tonight to send a message. But when the Bernabéu pushes, it's something special for us."

Regarding Tchouameni's performance amidst the jeers, Ancelotti defended his player, "He's a player with character who has returned to his position. He helped the team a lot, always supporting."

The substitution of Vinicius Junior was due to fatigue, with Ancelotti explaining, "Vini was decisive in the second half. I took him off to bring on Rodrygo's freshness."

Finally, on the team's commitment and their standing in various competitions, Ancelotti concluded, "We did better tonight. We look at the data, and we are in the fight for the League, the Champions League, and the Cup."

Mbappe's performance and his celebration were highlighted by Ancelotti: "What I see is a player who has returned to his best level, making runs with great continuity. He has been very useful in these last matches and will help us a lot in the upcoming ones."

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