CARDIFF, August 13 – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his side were on the verge of a new cycle of success after they beat Sevilla 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup.
The European champions began Tuesday’s game in Cardiff with new signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos in the starting XI, but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who proved the match-winner with a well-taken double.
Along with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, Madrid now boast an attack that cost around 310 million euros ($414 million) to assemble, and Ancelotti has set them a target of winning all six of the trophies on offer this season.
“I think we might be starting a very important cycle, because we have a squad of extraordinary quality,” he said.
“I’m fortunate to coach some outstanding players. We need to work very hard and make the necessary sacrifices. We can reach the highest heights and compete in all the competitions.”
He added: “It’s hard to improve this team. We have an outstanding set of players and what’s important is to use the squad to its full capacity.
“I can’t think that with this squad I can have a permanent starting XI because they’re all outstanding players and to be competitive in all competitions, we need to rotate our players and use the whole squad.”
Madrid employed a rapid, counter-attacking style last season, which ended with successes in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Kroos and Rodriguez are both more considered players than the jet-heeled Ronaldo and Bale, but Ancelotti does not believe that Madrid will have to change their tactical approach in order to accommodate them.
“I don’t think the style will change from last year,” he said.
“We can still use counter-attacks and fast breaks. Kroos played in the same position as Xabi Alonso and with the same purpose, to circulate the ball and whenever possible, to use the speed of our forwards.”
– Ronaldo ‘a bit nervous’ –
Ronaldo, who has now scored 18 goals against Sevilla in his career, praised Madrid’s two new recruits.
“Kroos and James are integrating very well and I wish them all the best in their adaptation,” he said. “They did well. They’re fantastic players.”
Colombian World Cup star Rodriguez, an 80-million-euro acquisition from Monaco, told reporters: “I’m very happy. I hope it’s the first of many titles.”
Ronaldo struggled with a knee problem during the World Cup and having played only once in pre-season prior to Tuesday’s game, he admitted that he had been apprehensive about his return to competitive action.
“It was my first official match this season and I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I felt good,” he said, after receiving the man-of-the-match award from his former Manchester United mentor Alex Ferguson.
“It’s the trophy I wanted because I hadn’t won it yet. I was a bit nervous to see how I’d feel on the pitch. I think I managed to work well with the team and I’m happy with both goals.”
Ancelotti described Ronaldo as “the best player on the pitch”.
“He scored two fantastic goals and played really well all game,” the Italian added.
Sevilla have accepted a bid from Liverpool for left-back Alberto Moreno, who was omitted from their match-day squad by coach Unai Emery.
The 22-year-old Spain international is poised to follow Barcelona new recruit Ivan Rakitic out of the club, but Emery said that Sevilla could still prosper without them.
“Sevilla has had outstanding players who have left and Sevilla have continued to be successful,” he said.
“We could talk about Alberto Moreno, Rakitic, Jesus Navas, Frederic Kanoute, Adriano, Seydou Keita. And Sevilla have always returned and come back as a strong squad.
“We know how to rebuild our team and continue to be successful. Change doesn’t scare me.”
