Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has praised his players for the courage and mental strength shown in recent weeks to set a new club record for consecutive wins.
The 2-1 defeat of Malaga on Saturday evening was Real’s 16th win in a row and surpasses the previous best set on two occasions – by Miguel Munoz and Jose Mourinho. It saw Los Blancos open up a gap on rivals Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at the top of the table.
Speaking to journalists after the match at La Rosaleda, Ancelotti said many would credit him with the run if wins, but he said it should go to the players.
“This is like a dream, but it is reality. We are very happy with this run of form and it will hopefully continue. People will give me the credit for this, but the key to the record is that I am fortunate to coach a fantastic team, fantastic players and work at a fantastic club. I have deep admiration for these players and we have to continue like this because it is a very long season,” he stated.
And he added: “I am slightly surprised with some of the players’ attitude towards their defensive duties, for example James, Isco, and Bale..The team is compact and work hard. As I have said a number of times, defending is simply a question of attitude. We have to keep working. The past is the past and we have to look forward. We are in a lot of competitions and we want to compete in them all.”
