Ancelotti talks Asencio, Ceballos, Lunin, Endrick after Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad in Copa de del Rey semi-final, and Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media after the match.

The Italian manager appeared content with both the result and the team’s overall performance, acknowledging the effort his players put in.

A key moment in the match occurred just before half-time when referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martínez was alerted to offensive chants directed at Madrid’s player Raul Asencio.

Vinicius Jr. informed the official that he and his teammates had heard chants telling Asensio to die.

Vinicius Jr. informed the referee. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In response, the referee activated Spain’s anti-hate protocol, which requires an announcement to be made over the stadium’s loudspeakers and displayed on the big screen as a warning to the crowd.

The incident had an impact on Asencio, who struggled to focus after the pause. Ancelotti later decided to substitute him, taking into account both his emotional state and the fact that he had already received a yellow card.

“The game was played well. Vinicius warned the referee and he did what had to be done. The game was played well.

“Asencio was affected. I substituted him because of that and because of the yellow card. Nobody likes to hear people chant “die” at them in a stadium,” said the manager.

Dani Ceballos’ injury

Dani Ceballos was injured against Real Sociedad. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In another concerning moment for Madrid, Dani Ceballos was forced off the field during stoppage time after a heavy collision with Takefusa Kubo.

The clash, which took place in the 92nd minute, left Ceballos visibly distressed, and he appeared to be on the verge of tears as he was helped off the pitch.

Ancelotti confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a muscular issue and would undergo medical tests the following day to determine the severity of the injury.

“Ceballos has had a muscle problem and will undergo tests tomorrow.”

Will Andriy Lunin start in the final?

Andriy Lunin played a good game (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

On the topic of goalkeeping selections, Ancelotti reaffirmed his faith in Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian goalkeeper was impressive in the match, and the manager confirmed that he would start in the second leg of the semi-final.

However, Ancelotti refused to speculate about who would play in a potential final, insisting that it was too early to make such decisions.

“Lunin will play in the second leg of this semi-final. He performed very well today.

“He is a very reliable goalkeeper, who did very well last year and is doing very well this year as well. But opening the debate about a possible final now… seems too far away to me,” noted the manager.

Thoughts on Endrick

Endrick scored the only goal of the match. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

When asked about Endrick’s contributions, Ancelotti spoke highly of the young forward. He praised the Brazilian’s speed, strength, and accuracy in front of goal, highlighting his ability to create and convert chances.

“He is a forward who has exactly the characteristics that he has shown in these Cup matches. He is very accurate, fast, and powerful and although he still needs to handle the ball better, he has that run.

“He could even have scored a second goal. He is a spectacular player when it comes to shooting. Very young, but he learns very quickly,” he added.

Real Madrid’s victory in San Sebastian keeps them in a strong position as they continue to compete on multiple fronts. However, with injuries and fixture congestion mounting, Ancelotti will have some crucial decisions to make in the coming weeks.

Source: AS