The Real Madrid dressing room was a poem after the debacle against Manchester City. The faces of bitterness, pain and sadness for a defeat that stings and reopens the debate over Carlo Ancelotti’s future, reviewed by Pep Guardiola at the Etihad. “This is sport. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Today we are not right, they deserve to pass and that’s it,” said Luka Modric.
“We haven’t been good. We wanted to play a better game, but City have been better and we must congratulate them,” said the Croatian, who prefers to avoid heated analysis. “I don’t want to go into the topic because we have to assimilate this defeat, but this team still has a lot to give and a lot of happiness to Real Madrid,” said the Real Madrid number 10 in the mixed zone.
The Balkan player broke a spear for Ancelotti, despite the fact that the serious reform damaged the coach’s image. «The coach deserves to continue, I have no doubt about that. Since they have come, in their second phase, they have won all the titles. Last year we had an incredible season. This year we were very good till the World Cup and then we had a defeat in the league which was not expected, but in the Cup and Champions League we have done very well till date and so I have no doubt about its continuation. He deserves it for everything he’s done and the experience he brings to this team. We played very well. There is no need to create any drama regarding this defeat. We have four games left in this league and we want to do well,” said the midfielder.
Modric also believes that his generation has a long way to go. Is this group worth another year? I asked him: «I think so, but I know when you lose in Madrid everything becomes huge. There is a lot of analysis and criticism in every defeat”, admitted the ’10.
Vinicius: “A little bit of everything was missing”
Another footballer who turned out to show his face at the Etihad Stadium was Vinicius, like his entire squad at the Mancunian venue. “It’s been a very difficult day for us,” admitted the Brazilian, who praised City. “They played very well. They are a great team,” he said.
«We haven’t managed to do what the coach has made us lose. Suffering is important but we cannot suffer for so long”, highlighted Carioca, who did not attribute the defeat by Real Madrid to a lack of character. “Not attitude. A little bit of everything is missing but it was a very tough game against a great team and at home,” he said.
“All very sad because we wanted to win and reach another final,” said Vinicius, who, like Modric, advocated Ancelotti’s continuation: “Yes, yes, of course.”
