Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his admiration for his players’ attitude following their 3-0 triumph over Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday.

The reigning Spanish, European, and now world champions delivered a commanding performance at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, with goals from Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Vinícius Júnior – this week’s recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

The victory marked Ancelotti’s 15th title as Real Madrid manager, setting a new record for the Italian tactician. Naturally, he was delighted to achieve such a milestone.

“It’s a lot of titles. I’m very happy; it’s a success,” Ancelotti said in his post-match interview. “The beginning of the match was a bit complicated, but then we took control and finished well. There was a difference in quality, but we needed the right attitude. In the end, I liked the attitude of the players, and our forwards made the difference.”

When asked if Vinícius is currently the best player in the world, Ancelotti chose not to answer directly but instead praised his entire attacking unit.

“Offensively, we played very well. There is a lot of quality. Kylian (Mbappé) had a great game, Rodrygo scored the second... We’re very happy. We’ve secured another title in good fashion,” he remarked.

Rodrygo, who also scored in Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga last Saturday, admitted in a separate interview that he is still struggling with the after-effects of two muscle injuries suffered earlier this season.

“It’s a bit frustrating because you want to be at your best and help the team, but sometimes you can’t. Everyone has been very supportive during my recovery process. I feel good now and hope to improve physically each day because I know I can contribute in many ways,” Rodrygo said.

With the Intercontinental Cup now behind them, Real Madrid can shift their focus back to the domestic title race, where they will host Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.