Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side "did not play at a high tempo" during the Champions League victory over Liverpool "because we did not need to."
Los Blancos scored in the 27th minute through Karim Benzema and dictated proceedings for the rest of the match. Liverpool rarely threatened and managed just four attempts on goal to the home side's 27, recorded by WhoScored.com, as Brendan Rodgers ushered in a slew of second-string players to keep his starting lineup fresh for the Premier League visit of Chelsea on Saturday.
After the match, Ancelotti insinuated such an approach allowed his team to keep their best efforts in reserve, reported by Madrid's official website:
It was a good match, we did not play at a high tempo because we did not need to. We scored in the first half and controlled the game without taking risks. We were comfortable on the pitch and tried to score more goals. We controlled the game and the victory is well deserved.
Cristiano Ronaldo posted one of Madrid's sloppier performances and rarely looked up to matching Raul's all-time Champions League goalscoring record of 71 with another strike.
The Portuguese icon put in a relaxed display, completing just two dribbles and being dispossessed once, not to mention drawing three fouls, per WhoScored. He failed to score from 10 shots, but "wasn't frustrated" with his first goalless club appearance in 13 matches, according to Ancelotti.
Rodgers packed his midfield to try to quash supply to Ronaldo, meaning Madrid were forced to place a greater emphasis on Marcelo getting forward. The left-back carried out more of a winger's role and summed up the side's comfortable night with his constant willingness to bomb into the box.
Liverpool rarely offered the attacking potency to test Iker Casillas and were happy to sit back as long as Madrid kept things moving without adding to the score. Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker believes Rodgers' decision to rest important players and offer little threat was against the spirit of the club:
Rodgers rebutted this criticism after the match and suggested his reserve players have put themselves into contention for the Chelsea match, reported by Daniel Taylor of The Guardian:
Tonight gives me food for thought. It was not players rested as such. We played a team to get the result and we nearly did. I thought we were very unfortunate not to get something out of the game. Irrespective of the Chelsea game, we picked a team to get a result. And it does not mean those who did not play will on Saturday.
Madrid did enough to control the game, but there's a sense the European champions took their foot off the accelerator during both ties with Liverpool. El Clasico loomed after the 3-0 win at Anfield in October, where the first-half trio of goals set an unyielding tone. As such, Madrid opted to take control of possession during the second half of the Merseyside tie.
While Ancelotti's side did try to add to their lead at the Bernabeu—coming closest when Gareth Bale hit the bar—the attacking intensity of the team who recently put eight beyond Deportivo and five past Basel was missing.
Rodgers' team selection hinted that it was a case of "job done" once the first goal went in, allowing Madrid to regroup and begin thinking about Saturday's tie with Rayo Vallecano.
The Spanish side didn't need to exert themselves too heavily to notch six points against the Reds, although Liverpool must be commended for containing their opponents well during Tuesday's clash. Confidence will be gained heading into the Chelsea match, no doubt.
That said, Rodgers' decision to let Madrid off the hook with his unambitious strategy seems a world away from the Liverpool side who blitzed opponents last year. So much was made of the club qualifying for the Champions League and indeed the exciting football they could bring to the competition.
With vital fixtures against Ludogorets and Basel remaining, Liverpool's continental stint is yet to kick into life.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1tz3wji
via IFTTT November 05, 2014 at 01:45AM
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