Carlo Ancelotti has claimed the five points between Real Madrid and their rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is substantial after they cut the deficit from eight points with the win over Valencia.
Los Blancos were victorious with goals from Angel Di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and a late winner from Jese Rodriguez after Valencia levelled the score.
“I am pleased with this first part of the season and I have high hopes for 2014,” Ancelotti told the press.
“The team keeps fighting, working hard and has a lot of quality. We have lost some points whilst looking to play the way we wanted. I think 2014 may be very good for Real Madrid”.
Regarding the La Liga table, he said: “Five points aren’t insignificant. Today’s match was very important and we had a lot of pressure on us.”
We started this match eight points behind and it is not easy. At this point the table is clear. Barcelona and Atlético are doing very well.”
They have five points more than us and are the favourites right now, but I have high hopes for the second half of the season”.
With regard to the midfield, he said: “We did well. Isco had more problems because Parejo and Oriol played well, but the control of the play was good”.
He praised Di María: “He deserves to play in this team as much as other players, but I cannot make the whole squad happy. This sort of competition is normal in a big team, but all the players get along well”.
Valencia managed to make the game 2-2 with goals from Pablo Piatti and Jeremy Mathieu, and Ancelotti made his feelings clear on the matter: “It is true we have let in a lot of goals from set pieces.”
“We’ve conceded goals from dead ball situations in the last two matches, but we have only conceded two goals in 26 matches. The last two matches were not good, but the other 24 were very good. Everything will go well with more concentration at set pieces”.
Follwo Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
