adminMADRID. — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was left frustrated after his Spanish soccer giants were forced to hang on to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 on Saturday. Madrid had cruised into a 3-0 lead thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double and a Karim Benzema header as Gareth Bale laid on two goals for the second consecutive game.
However, two Jonathan Viera penalties in the space of two minutes brought Rayo right back into the game with 35 minutes still to play. And the hosts were extremely unlucky not to snatch a point as Alberto Bueno struck the post and saw another effort fly inches wide of
Diego Lopez’s far post.
Despite eventually running out 7-3 winners, Real had also let Sevilla score two quick goals after going 3-0 ahead on Wednesday.
And Ancelotti wants his side to be more ruthless once they get into a winning position.
“Against Sevilla we were 3-0 up and let them back into the game. Today the same thing happened and that is not a coincidence,” he said.
“We need to change and remove the superficiality we have on the pitch, the second-half was a disaster. You cannot let a team back into the game like that when you have the quality of Real Madrid.
“Rayo press very well high up the pitch, they are very strong in this.
“We struggled in the second-half, not in the first. We need to read the game better and take advantage of the counter-attack.”
Whilst Ancelotti refused to blame individuals for the manner in which they wilted in the second period, defender Pepe admitted he had been more forthright in the dressing room. — AFP.
Online Reporter