Ancelotti: “The boiler’s back at the right temperature”

Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with how his team turned the Copa del Rey semi-final around, beating Barcelona 0-4 on home turf to set up a meeting with Jagoba Arrasate’s Osasuna in next month’s final - just as the Real Madrid coach predicted.

What did you make of the game?

We put in a very complete game in every sense - that’s clear when you win 0-4 at a stadium like Camp Nou. We read the game well, were able to ride out the moments when Barcelona made us suffer in the first half and the opening goal changed the direction of the match, we were able to find more space going forward. In the second half we punished Barcelona.

Camavinga was superb at left-back…

He’s still young, he’s in a great moment of form - regardless of where he plays - midfield, left-back… He’s adapting, and did really well containing Raphinha. Like all of the others, he put in a great game. He can play at full-back in emergency situations. He did really well tonight.

Some commentators thought you might rest Modric and Kroos for the Chelsea game...

These are the kind of games where a player’s personality and experience are very important. We tried to compliment the energy that Rodrygo, Camavinga and Valverde give us, with the experience that Modric and Kroos have. Both of them were spectacular tonight.

Did you tell Arrasate you will see him in the final?

That was just a joke with Jagoba, but it turned out to be true. We’re really happy to be in the final, I’m sure that he is too. It’ll be a nice atmosphere.

What has the team learned from the last few Clásicos?

I think the experience of the last two Clásicos was the same, the way we set up the team was the same. We changed Rodrygo’s role a little, but the plan was the same. Small details determine games like these. The first goal was fantastic and conditioned the direction the game took in the second half.

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Benzema back to his best

He worked well during the break, he’s managed to get back into top shape and his quality made the difference, without any doubt. He’s still one of the best players in the world, no doubt about it. When he’s in form, he’s among the best.

You didn’t celebrate the win out on the pitch…

Because we celebrated in the dressing room. Reaching a final is important - especially when you have to come from behind. Let’s hope we can celebrate again in the final.

Vinicius was excellent, but got involved in several fights…

It was a physical game with a lot of contacts, nerves were lost, but these things happen. I took him off because it made no sense to keep him on after he’d been booked. I’d rather not take any risks.

What were you most proud of tonight?

I think the boiler’s back at the right temperature. Everything is functioning just when we are entering the most important part of the season.

Do you feel vindicated?

No, not at all. We’re very happy, I am very fortunate to coach a great team at a great club.

Did the last two Clásicos knock Madrid’s confidence?

We lost the last two games against Barcelona, but those negative results didn’t make us lose our self-confidence. The plan was the same, we haven’t changed that much. A few small details, but that’s all.

A Cup final. Sounds great doesn’t it?

It sounds very nice. We played a very good game, it was tough at the start, but we did well in the second half. We’re happy. We didn’t lose our heads when they pressed and we knew how to use the spaces when we went forward. We played a perfect game.

What did you say to the players at half-time?

More than what I had to say to them, it was going 0-1 up that changed everything. After that we had more space on the break and we took advantage of that.