On Wednesday’s 2-0 first-leg win over Chelsea, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti attributed right-back Dani Carvajal’s positioning to limiting Ben Chilwell’s impact.
Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal left the Spanish giants in a favorable position, thanks to the performances of some of their key players.
Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was particularly pleased with right-back Dani Carvajal, who limited Ben Chilwell’s impact on the game with his exceptional positioning. Ancelotti acknowledged that Carvajal’s contributions played a vital role in the high-pressure tactics employed by his team, which kept Chelsea from advancing beyond their own half for most of the game.
While Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, the Brazilian wingers, caused numerous problems for Chelsea, it was their pressing game that won the match. Carvajal’s impressive defensive work down the right-hand side also earned him high praise from his manager, who lauded the player’s consistency in big games.
“He never lets you down in the big games,” Carlo Ancelotti said praising Carvajal after the game.
Chelsea’s Chilwell, on the other hand, was a significant disappointment, offering very little offensively, except for a few set-pieces. According to Ancelotti, Carvajal’s presence on the pitch was the primary reason behind Chilwell’s lackluster performance.
“Much of the credit for the pressure we tried to employ high up came through him down the right-hand side on Chilwell.”
Furthermore, Chilwell’s red card in the match implies that Real Madrid will not have to worry about his attacking threat in the second leg.