The Real Madrid coach has conceded that referee Manuel
Grafe's decision to send off the Italian defender proved to be the turning
point in Madrid's win over Juventus.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says the dismissal of
Giorgio Chiellini changed the complexion of the game following the 2-1 victory
over Juventus.
Referee Manuel Grafe chose to issue the Italy
international a straight red card on 48 minutes for a seemingly innocuous
challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese bagged a double either side of a Fernando
Llorente equaliser, which proved sufficient in dispatching the Bianconeri, but
Ancelotti believes the outcome could have been different had his team not been
handed a numerical advantage.
"The game changed," he told reporters.
"There are five referees, then they decide to penalise Juventus and we
must accept it."
The former Paris Saint-Germain boss went on to claim he
was pleased with the result - even if his team failed to put the 10-man Italians
to the sword.
He added: "We could have played better, but the win
is what's important to us.
"The team is confident and developing well. It's a
good result. We won the game after playing well for an hour, then we slowed
down.
"I liked that we played well at times and we had
balance, though we tired towards the end.
"The intensity has to be different; we had two clear
opportunities [at 2-1] and did not take them."
The Blancos, who are yet to drop a point in the
competition so far, are in poll position to qualify as Group B winners, with
second-placed Galatasaray sitting five points adrift of the Spanish giants on
four points.
Culled from Goal
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