Post-Match Comments: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

Carlo Ancelotti

Analysis of the Game:

"I'm happy to get to the semis, even though we gifted them a lot, especially in the first half. In the second we didn't lose our heads, we defended better and we had chances to score. Football is like that, we gifted and then we suffered."

"After the missed penalty, we got scared. The first half was hard. At the break I didn't have to give them a stern talking to. The side was sad, low on confidence, they needed animating and we changed a little, putting Bale on the right and Isco on the left. Things got better in the second half."

"I think the side is alright and it might be that to improve we needed to have a game like this and suffer."

Iker's Saves and Ronaldo's Status:

"Casillas made a great save at a very important moment in the game."

"Cristiano was fine. We didn't want to risk him because of the intensity of the tie, and we didn't have to. Hopefully he's better soon and he is ready for the semi-final. It's not a big problem because if it were, he wouldn't have been on the bench. He has time to recover and could play on Saturday."

Di María's Penalty:

"I thought of assigning him becaue the last time Cristiano Ronaldo didn't play-- against Olímpic de Xàtiva--Di María took it. I don't know if we'll change it now and he will be the third or fourth taker."

Luka Modric

"We are very happy to reach the semifinals but not with the way we played tonight, especially in the first half. We cannot allow this and we have to improve. But the most important thing for us is to go to the semifinals."

Casemiro

"We did not play well in the first half. We qualified, we are in the semi-final and now we have to think about the league. We knew this would be a complicated match because Dortmund play good football at home. We have to remember that in the second half we showed enthusiasm and great intensity. We have players for that and we have done well in the second half."

"I'm here to help, regardless of the minutes I play. I will continue to work every day and train hard to do well and help the team. The boss is the boss and I respect his opinion. I try to work and make things right."