Carlo Ancelotti was unbothered by Real Madrid s failed attempt to defend a three-goal lead against Villarreal, instead focusing on avoiding injuries and keeping their rhythm.
A double from Arda Guler, as well as goals from Joselu and Lucas Vazquez, had Madrid in control at 4-1 up away to Villarreal on Sunday.
Yet Alexander Sorloth, who pulled a goal back earlier on, managed three goals in eight minutes to salvage a 4-4 draw for the hosts against the LaLiga champions.
Despite faltering to a late comeback, Ancelotti was more than pleased with his side s efforts, ahead of the upcoming Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.
The target was not the points because we don t need them, the target was to play a good game with rhythm, intensity, avoiding injuries. Everything went perfectly, he told a post-match press conference.
I m not worried ahead of the Champions League final, this was an open game.
Maybe we conceded more goals than necessary but that s okay, it doesn t change anything about what the final has to be. In attack, we played well.
Champions draw with Villarreal.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
Villarreal are set to finish eighth in the LaLiga table, unable to be caught by any team below and incapable of reaching seventh-placed Real Betis.
Sorloth may end with an individual award, though, after scoring his league-leading 23rd goal of the season with the fourth of his quartet of strikes.
It was a match with a lot of goals, the kind that the fans like, Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno, who provided three assists, told Movistar.
I ll take the reaction in the second half. We will try to go to Europe next year.
I hope Sorloth ends up top scorer. He s a fantastic teammate. He deserves it. We re going to try to help him. He s had an incredible season.
