Carlo Ancelotti critcised his players after Real Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme´s extra-time strikes earned Atletico Madrid a 4-2 win over rivals Real Madrid and passage to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
“Sometimes, when you have the game under control, you don’t need to force the play. We have young players with extraordinary quality, who try. There are moments in games when it’s not necessary to force the play,” Ancelotti said after the match.
Atletico edged an entertaining battle at the Rojiblancos´ Metropolitano stadium, the second of three Madrid derbies in under a month, to inflict Los Blancos´ second defeat of the season in all competitions.
Madrid twice pegged back Atletico to take the game to extra-time, with Jan Oblak´s own goal cancelling out Samuel Lino´s opener, and Joselu netting late on after Morata had put the hosts in front again.
In extra-time Griezmann broke down the right and finished with aplomb and Riquelme struck at the death to settle the game and avenge Atletico´s 5-3 defeat by Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final last week.
Defeat snapped Madrid´s 21-match unbeaten run.
"I don´t think (Atletico have the measure of us), because we beat them a few days ago," Ancelotti added.
"We played a complete game, even, hard-fought, against a strong rival.
“When we tied the match we lacked some control and we didn’t take enough risks.
“We couldn't do more. We lost it in the end when we took risks. I don't know if the elimination is fair.”