Carlo Ancelotti credits the ‘experience’ of Champions League holders Real Madrid with the turnaround from 2-0 to beat Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield and calls Vinicius Junior ‘the most decisive player in the world right now.’

It was an extraordinary game at Anfield, especially because Liverpool had surged into a 2-0 lead within 14 minutes thanks to a Darwin Nunez back-heel flick and Mohamed Salah making the most of a Thibaut Courtois howler.

Most teams would’ve crumbled psychologically at that point, but Real Madrid were already at 2-2 by the 36th minute with a Vinicius Junior brace, then turned it all around after the break with Eder Militao on a free kick routine and Karim Benzema’s double.

“It started terribly for us, fortunately we did not lose our heads, we gradually took control of the game and sorted out the defensive issues. Even earlier we could see that we were dangerous in attack, but Liverpool were hurting us down the left, so we had to sort that out,” Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia.

Benzema had not scored yet this season in the Champions League, but broke that duck with a brace at Anfield.

“It was certainly a match that motivated him, we rested him at the weekend to be ready for this and these are tournaments for players like Modric, Kroos and Karim, where experience makes the difference. When you are 2-0 down, the experience of these players is fundamental to help the younger elements stay concentrated.”

Vinicius Junior scored twice before half-time to level the game and Ancelotti had the highest of praise for the Brazilian.

“Right now, I think he is the most decisive player in the world. Everything he does is a dribble away from a defender, an assist or a goal, and he does it for the full 90 minutes. He just never stops.”

No team had ever managed to score four goals away to Liverpool in Europe before, let alone five, so Italian tactician Ancelotti has written yet another page in the football history books.

“For Real Madrid, and it has always been like this, the Champions League is the most important competition for the club, so that is felt in the preparation for these games.

“It is certainly not over yet, we have done well in the first part of the tie, but the second is still to be played and anything can happen.”

Sky Sport Italia pundit Fabio Capello slightly reduced the Real Madrid achievement by calling Liverpool “an ex-team” and revealing his thoughts on their defending from the free kick. “Are they drunk?”

One thought on “Ancelotti: ‘Real Madrid experience key, Vinicius most decisive player in the world’”
  1. The final result was resounding but it doesn’t mask going 2 down to a team that has been well below par for a long while now. It was only a little while ago that they got thrashed by wolves. Defensively, this doesn’t bode well for Real Madrid for when facing stronger sides.

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