Real Madrid in Copa final despite ‘a lot of mistakes’, says Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has acknowledged that his team has made it to the Copa del Rey final despite committing a lot of mistakes. The Los Blancos won the semifinal of the tournament against Real Sociedad by 5-4 on aggregate after the second leg ended in a 4-4 draw.

At the Santiago Bernabéu, the visitors took a 3-1 lead but Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni equalized for the home team. But Mikel Oyarzabal scored in the stoppage time to take the game into extra time.

German defender Antonio Rudiger scored from a header in the 115th to help his team seal the final spot.

“It was an entertaining game with a lot of goals, and a lot of good things,” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference. “We’ve achieved our objective, we’re in another final.

“A lot of good things, a lot of mistakes, but in the end, we did it.”

Ancelotti added that even being 3-1 down, he didn’t fear that Madrid would be knocked out.

“I never thought we were out,” he said. “Anything can happen in the Bernabéu, above all in these games with this kind of atmosphere, when we have to fight back. We never give up.”

The Italian manager showered praise on Vinicius Jr., who provided two assists in the match.

“It’s what we ask of [Endrick], to be ready,” Ancelotti said. “He made a good run, a good pass [from Vinícius] and a fantastic finish. That’s Endrick, he doesn’t touch the ball much, but he’s very clinical.”

Endrick said he needs to be ready to grab his chance with both hands whenever called upon.

“I have to make the most of it when I play,” Endrick told Real Madrid TV. “I know how difficult it is to play here, with the four best in the world in attack. Vini, Kylian, Jude and Rodrygo are incredible players, but when I have an opportunity, I have to help the team.”

Real Madrid will next take on Valencia in the La Liga on Saturday.