Ancelotti is not happy: Real Madrid played with fire against Al-Ahly of Egypt soccer

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was not happy with his team’s performance during the 4-1 victory over Al-Ahly of Egypt in the Club World Cup semi-finals yesterday, Wednesday, and said that the European champion played with fire in a match that he should have decided early.

And following Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde scored before and following the break, Real missed many opportunities to widen the difference, at a time when Al-Ahly succeeded in scoring from a penalty kick executed by Ali Maaloul.

Ancelotti told a news conference, “When we advanced 2-0 (at the start of the second half), we thought the match was over and dribbling increased. The team relaxed and that should not happen. In this tournament, Real has a lot to lose and nothing to gain.”

Mohamed Magdy (Qafsha) missed the chance to equalize for Al-Ahly, to put the Spanish giants in danger.

Despite Luka Modric missing a penalty 3 minutes from time, Rodrigo and substitute Arribas ensured a comfortable victory in stoppage time.

The Italian coach added, “We did not win easily, but we won in a good way. We must play well while maintaining focus until the end of the match. We faced a few difficult minutes, until Modric’s penalty.”

Real will play once morest Al Hilal Saudi Arabia in the final in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, next Saturday, following the Asian champion stunned his Brazilian rival, Flamengo, 3-2 in the semi-finals.

Ancelotti confirmed that striker Karim Benzema and defender Eder Militao joined the team today, Thursday, in preparation for the final, following they were absent from yesterday’s meeting to continue treatment in Madrid, and he explained, “Neither of them has fully recovered, Karim (Benzema) is in good condition, and there are greater doubts regarding Militao. On Friday, (Dani) Carvajal (from the Al-Ahly match) was absent due to a fever and (Marco) Asensio due to muscle overload, and I think the two are ready for the Al-Hilal match.