Carlo Ancelotti believes that if Real Madrid match their Supercopa de Espana first leg performance in Friday’s return, they will claim the trophy.
Tuesday night’s meeting at Santiago Bernabeu between the Copa del Rey winners and the League champions ended in a 1-1 draw, James Rodriguez’s late goal cancelled out by Raul Garcia’s even later equaliser.
The destination of the trophy will now be decided by Friday night’s second leg at Vicente Calderon and Ancelotti told reporters after the final whistle that a repeat showing will deliver a second trophy of the season, after the European Super was won earlier this month.
“Atletico have a small advantage because we have to win at the Calderon,” AS reports Ancelotti as acknowledging.
“We will try. If we repeat the game today, we’ll win the Supercopa.
“After the goal we had good control of the game and only failed at a set piece, where we didn’t control the near post.
“The error for the goal was not to cover the first post. [Iker Casillas] had no chance to do anything in that situation.
“I’ve decided my first choice goalkeeper but I won’t say who.
“I think the team played well, with an extraordinary tempo, control of the game throughout the match, pushing forward…the three midfielders played well.
“James did well and the team played better and with more speed in the second half.
“He scored his first goal for Madrid and that will give him more confidence.”
The match saw a number of bookings for both sides and a Madrid penalty appeal rejected with the score at 1-1.
Ancelotti declined to criticise the referee for not awarding a spot kick for a Mario Suarez handball, and also said he didn’t feel Atletico were overly aggressive in their approach.
“It was a clear hand ball, it’s cost us but I don’t want to talk about it,” the Italian went on.
“It wasn’t an easy game to referee and that’s it.
“Atletico didn’t seem too aggressive to me. Normal. Atletico always play with this intensity and aggression.”
