Madrid: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti lauded Cristiano Ronaldo’s killer instinct in front of goal after the Portuguese scored his 23rd hat-trick for Los Blancos in an 8-2 rout at Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday.
“We showed the quality we have. We have a phenomenon in Ronaldo and we have other players with great quality,” said Ancelotti.
“They combined very well together and that was the best thing we can take from the game.”
Ancelotti’s men were under pressure to return to winning ways in La Liga after two consecutive defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid that had left them six points adrift of leaders Barcelona after just three games.
Real had responded with a 5-1 thrashing of Basel to open their Champions League campaign in midweek. However, despite their free-scoring form, Ancelotti insisted finding the right balance between defence and attack remains his primary objective as they have now conceded seven times in their last three league outings.
“Right now we are not thinking about that. We are thinking about fixing the problems we have and we are doing that well.
“The season is very long and recovering points on the leaders just now isn’t the problem.
“We have to improve. Today we showed the quality everyone knows we have, which is the capability to score in many different ways.
“We need to continue improving the balance and our consistency. After two defeats we have scored 13 goals and that is a good sign that we have responded well.”
Real now trail second-placed Atletico Madrid by two points after the champions missed the chance to go top as they were held 2-2 at home by Celta Vigo.
Ronaldo opened the scoring with a fantastic header from Alvaro Arbeloa’s cross, but the Portuguese was upstaged by James Rodriguez and the Colombian doubled the visitors’ advantage with a sumptuous left-footed effort that curled into the top corner.
A goalkeeping howler from German Lux then allowed Ronaldo to fire into an empty net to make it 3-0 before the break, but Depor did manage to pull one back when Haris Medunjanin converted from the penalty spot after Sergio Ramos was adjudged to have handled.
Gareth Bale struck twice in the final 25 minutes before Ronaldo rounded off his hat-trick to ensure Real bounced back in style after suffering consecutive defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid in their last two league outings.
Toche headed home a late consolation for the hosts, but Javier Hernandez rounded off a fine day for Real when he volleyed home his first two goals for the club since joining on loan from Manchester United.
It was a more frustrating night in the capital for Atletico as they were held for the second time in four games this season.
The hosts were shocked 19 minutes in, when Pablo Hernandez produced a moment of genius to backheel Carles Planas’s cross past Miguel Angel Moya.
Diego Simeone’s men had to rely on their efficiency from set-pieces to dig themselves out of trouble as Miranda prodded home Koke’s free-kick before Diego Godin powered home a header from Gabi’s corner to lead before the break.
However, Celta were level once more eight minutes into the second half, when Miranda was adjudged to have clipped Planas inside the area and Nolito slammed home the resulting spot-kick.
Celta keeper Sergio Alvarez had to make a fine save to deny much-maligned Atletico striker Raul Jimenez, who also had a goal rightly ruled out for offside.
And Atletico were foiled by the offside flag again in the last action of the game as Alessio Cerci was denied a fairytale ending to his home debut.
“I think the team had enough chances to win the game comfortably,” said Atletico captain Gabi.
“We were found wanting with our finishing, but we need to keep working. We are annoyed because you can’t let points slip away at home.”
