Ancelotti: ‘Atalanta made us suffer in the first half’

Following Real Madrid’s 2-0 triumph over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti shared his thoughts on the match and his team’s performance. The Italian coach, who has now equaled Miguel Muñoz as the most successful manager in Real Madrid’s history, expressed his gratitude and admiration for his squad.

Ancelotti began by stating, “It is an honor and a privilege to coach this team. Tonight’s match was beautiful, Atalanta made us suffer a lot in the first half. They were very strong in duels, then their pressure dropped a bit.”

The experienced manager likened facing Atalanta to a challenging dental appointment, praising their organization. “As they say, playing against Atalanta is like going to the dentist. They are a very organized team,” Ancelotti remarked.

Discussing his tactical approach, Ancelotti explained, “Up front, I asked my players for mobility. I don’t care if one plays on the right, left, or center; what’s important is that they occupy the space well, as they did.”

The Real Madrid boss also took a moment to commend new signing Jude Bellingham, stating, “Bellingham? He’s a player of absolute quality, there’s not much to say. He played this match after only seven days of training.”

Despite the victory, Ancelotti made sure to acknowledge Atalanta’s strong performance, concluding, “Atalanta, however, played an excellent game and made us suffer.”