Ancelotti: I can't ask Real players to deliver swashbuckling football at this stage of the season

Carlo Ancelotti appeared in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu following Real Madrid's win over Leipzig on matchday two of the Champions League Group Stage:

"In the second half, when they lowered the energy to focus on quick transitions, we pushed on and we deserved to win it. I can't ask the players to deliver swashbuckling football at this stage of the season. We put in an intelligent display. We'd like to have scored earlier but it's the Champions League and we're up against a Leipzig side who are flying high and just beat Dortmund. We were a bit concerned about this game but in the end we got the job done".

"It wasn't a spectacular performance but to be honest the key thing for us was to nullify their counter-attack because they can be very dangerous. We pushed our lines high up in the first half and we had it largely under control at the back, they only got in behind us a couple of times. We wanted to make sure defensive awareness was central to our game because the counter attack is their greatest strength".