What did Carlo Ancelotti say to inspire Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey comeback against Villarreal?

After Real Madrid’s superb second-half comeback to come from 2-0 down to defeat Villarreal 3-2 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed his pride at his team’s response to being behind. He also played down his clash with Rodrygo after substituting the Brazilian early in the second period.

Here’s everything that Ancelotti had to say after the game on another historic night for Los Blancos. First, the Italian spoke to Spanish broadcaster RTVE in a flash interview on the field seconds after the final whistle.

What did Carlo Ancelotti say in a flash interview after Real Madrid’s comeback against Villarreal?

Congratulations, are Real Madrid back?

“Real Madrid are back and we’re back in style. In the first half we were not good but the second was different. We took more risks, we were better physically and we showed courage. A very bad first half and very good second half.”

What did you say at the break?

“I told them they had to wake up, we lost too many individual battles in the first half. Their early goal made us take more risks in attack and they controlled the ball well and countered well.”

What went wrong in that first half?

“The team was too open, we failed to press. In the second half it was totally different.”

What happened with Rodrygo?

“I told him not to forget to acknowledge me when he comes off.”

And on the Villarreal bench? Things looked heated...

“They were angry. They thought they were going through. Losing like that is hard to take.”

Is the fixture schedule too much?

“Real Madrid never give up.”

What did Carlo Ancelotti say in his post-match press conference after Real Madrid’s comeback against Villarreal?

Ancelotti’s official post-match press conference then followed a little later as he expanded on a number of things he had said in the immediate aftermath of the win.

Does the second half show that Madrid can get back to their best?

“Yes, it looks like we’re back. The first half wasn’t good, it was very bad. But the second was unexpected, it’s hard to change the flow of a game that has been that bad in the first half. But the team had the character and personality to do it, things weren’t going at all well for us but they turned it around. We mustn’t forget the first half, but the second gives us a lot of confidence. We didn’t give up, we fought for every ball…we changed. Just like you, you’ll have changed your article.”

What happened to Rodrygo? And what about Pepe Reina with Vinicius?

“The incident with Pepe Reina was nothing, we’ve spoken about it. He was a little annoyed with Vini, I asked him to calm down. Rodrygo had a little muscular issue at half-time and I didn’t want to risk him. He played his part, that’s it.”

You left Camavinga on the field despite him being shown a yellow card.

“He played very well, his positioning was good in the first half, he showed more energy and character in the second. He’s learning little by little that he must be careful. I don’t think he should’ve been shown the yellow card but he put in a complete performance.”

What did you tell them at the break?

“I was very angry, we were losing, we were taking risks by pressing high up the field but they handled our pressure well at the back. We weren’t assertive enough. We lost too many individual battles. I told them to wake up, that there was still time. In this match, there was a clear difference between the first half and the second. The first one was not good, we just can’t play like that. But our reaction was superb. This club never gives up, those who work here know that. We didn’t give up, but we can’t be as poor as that again.”

Ceballos was the architect of a superb comeback.

“He and Vinicius changed the game, they added quality and energy. They were the key figures in turning the score around.”