"We didn’t deserve to win" - Carlo Ancelotti makes interesting comments after Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Real Sociedad on Saturday (September 14) in La Liga, with Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé scoring from the spot. However, in the aftermath, coach Carlo Ancelotti offered a critical assessment of his team’s performance, admitting that the result may have flattered the performance put up by his side.

"It was a complicated match. We didn’t deserve to win, because Real Sociedad pressed a lot. We held on and suffered, we had commitment. And I value that a lot, because it’s not easy to find commitment in a team with so much quality. And today we did it," Ancelotti said following the game (via Managing Madrid).

Real Sociedad dominated for majority of the first half, with Luka Sucic and Sheraldo Becker hitting the woodwork. Sucic's powerful shot rattled the crossbar in the 25th minute, while Madrid struggled to find rhythm. The Italian tactician acknowledged his team's slow start:

"We didn’t have a good start. They pressed very well in our field and we didn’t always manage to find the free player."

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Vinícius converted a penalty following a handball by Sociedad’s Sergio Gómez. Mbappé doubled the lead with another penalty in the 75th minute after Vinícius was fouled in the box.

Although critical of the performance, Ancelotti highlighted that Real Madrid are not yet at full strength. He said:

"We can talk about all the problems in the world with this match, but the important thing was to start well. We have to keep in mind that we are not at 100%. It’s normal, we don’t have four midfielders. I value very much the work of those who played.”

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"He’s improving a lot" - Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti lauds Kylian Mbappe's performance against Real Sociedad

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Kylian Mbappé following Real Madrid’s victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. The French forward was instrumental in securing the win, converting a crucial penalty in the 75th minute to solidify Madrid's position in La Liga.

After the match Ancelotti was quick to highlight the big-money signing's growing influence.

"I see him fresher, more active. He is very dangerous and combines well with Vinícius and the strikers. He’s improving a lot. I liked his game a lot," the Real Madrid boss remarked to the media.

Mbappé’s pace and movement caused constant problems for the Real Sociedad defense. His penalty, coolly dispatched as goalkeeper Álex Remiro dived the wrong way, was a testament to his growing confidence.

Since moving to Santiago Bernabeu, Mbappe has faced plenty of flak for his goal drought in the league. However, the talismanic forward ended the goalless streak with a brace against Real Betis before the international break. With another goal added to his tally on Saturday, the 25-year-old is steadily creeping up the goalscoring charts at his new club.