Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti speaks after the UEFA Champions League clash with Liverpool at Anfield
Sport
Carlo Ancelotti speaks to the media in a post match press conference after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 27, 2024
(Image: Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Carlo Ancelotti admits his Real Madrid side were deservedly beaten by Liverpool – and hinted they lost heart after Kylian Mbappe’s dramatic penalty miss. Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo earned the Reds a 2-0 Champions League victory at Anfield on Wednesday evening.
While it maintained Liverpool’s 100% start to the competition and moved them two points clear at the top of the table, Real Madrid are now in danger of missing out on the knockout stages having dropped to 24th – the final qualification place – with three games remaining.
The Spanish side had an opportunity to level the game on 61 minutes when Andy Robertson fouled Lucas Vazquez in the area but Caoimhin Kelleher saved the spot kick from Mbappe.
READ MORE: What happened with five minutes left speaks volumes as Arne Slot's remarkable Liverpool beat Real MadridREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Conor Bradley and seven others brilliant as Real Madrid dismantled
And Ancelotti pinpointed that as a turning point against a Reds side who earned their first victory over Real Madrid in more than 15 years.
“To be totally honest, it’s a fair result,” said the former Everton boss. “Liverpool deserved to win. They have a real good dynamic at the moment and are in great form. They were really switched on, connected, playing with high intensity.
“We did okay in the first half, we held them and set up quite well and defended well as a unit. In transitions we were okay. But then we lost the ball and once we gained the ball we made the wrong decision going forward.
“We fought right up until the point of the penalty. If we could have evened it up, we had competed well up to that point. But we have to keep going.”
Ancelotti added: “This is the road we are on at the moment, we have to fight for everything. There are things we have to improve. And we will improve, nothing more really.
“In the second half we didn’t make the right decisions. But Liverpool were great in the second half.
“This game wasn’t a decisive game in terms of our league position, it was always going to be tough for us to finish in the top eight so we have to finish in top 24 as high as we can. We will be competing in the Champions League knockout stages like we always are.”
Mbappe was well below his best and has struggled to find his form since moving to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer.
And of the France international, Ancelotti said: “Forwards, when they don’t score they get a bit disappointed and lose confidence. There’s a medicine. It’s a difficult moment for Mbappe, we have to give him our support and our love and he’ll soon be fine.
“It could be a lack of confidence. The idea is to keep things simple and not overcomplicate it. You get through these moments. You can’t blame someone for missing a penalty, you can’t put too much grief on him for that. He just has to get through it.”