Carlo Ancelotti praised the quality of his Real Madrid side’s bench as they came back from behind for the 10th time this season to beat Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday to return to the top of LaLiga.
Javi Munoz gave Las Palmas the lead at the Gran Canaria Stadium, but goals from Vinicius Junior and substitute Aurelien Tchoumeni earned the points for Madrid, who were without the suspended Jude Bellingham.
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It is the second consecutive game in which Madrid have come from behind to win, following last week’s 3-2 win against Almería. This is the sixth time he has done so in the current LaLiga campaign, having also done so three times in the Champions League and once in the Spanish Supercopa.
“It’s a tool we have, options on the bench who are really motivated to contribute,” Madrid coach Ancelotti told a news conference about his team’s ability to turn games around.
“It’s something we have in our locker that we want to take advantage of, although, of course, we’d like to go out to the front and enjoy the changes a little bit more.
But it may not always turn out that way. When that doesn’t happen, I can look to the bench and I have a lot of options to change the dynamics of the game because every player is ready for it.”
The first half came alive after the break when Munoz gave Las Palmas the lead, with Ancelotti describing the goal as the turning point in the match.
“Conceding goals changed the dynamics of the game,” he said. “We changed the system in the first half to make it wider. It wasn’t a spectacular performance but it was good.
“We can’t forget that we were up against a top team. Las Palmas is good with the ball and it’s hard to win it back. They have only conceded two goals in the first half of games in LaLiga this season.”
Ancelotti also spoke on his decision not to bring Luka Modric off the bench for the second consecutive match.
“Luca didn’t even warm up because if I’m not sure he’s going to play I don’t ask him,” said the Italian. “I have to respect him in that sense. He’s fine, he’s really good. He’s ready for the next game.”
Tchoumeni, meanwhile, responded to the criticism that followed his performance in Madrid’s Copa del Rey defeat to Atlético Madrid 10 days earlier by scoring the 84th-minute winner just three minutes after coming on.
“I could have done better for the goal I scored in the Copa del Rey, but I don’t want people to doubt my mentality,” the France midfielder told reporters.
“When we played against Barcelona at the beginning of this season, I played until the end despite the injury. Look, it may happen, Real Madrid may be criticized, but it doesn’t matter. I always say That it’s a dream to play for this association.”
The win took Madrid back to the top of LaLiga with 54 points from 21 matches, two more than Verona, who play Celta Vigo on Sunday.
“There are more rivals than Verona,” warned Tchoumeni. “Barcelona, Atletico and Athletic Club are also there.
“But, as always, the most important thing is to focus on ourselves. If we win all our games by the end of the season, we will be champions.”
