Pepe confident in Real penalty call

Posted Friday, September 27, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed Pepe was sure his side's controversial injury-time penalty was the correct call following their 2-1 win at Elche.

The capital club were awarded the spot-kick with time almost expired when Pepe tangled with Carlos Sanchez as a corner was swung in.

Pepe appeared to be equally as culpable as the Elche man for contact which sent both players to the turf, before Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away the penalty.

Sanchez was incensed with the referee after the final whistle, with his team-mates having to keep him away from the official.

Afterwards Ancelotti, who admitted his side's display had been below-par, claimed he did not have a good view of the incident, instead taking Pepe's word that it was a foul.

"It's hard to talk about these situations because from the bench our position is not the best," he said.

"Generally speaking I don't like to talk about refereeing decisions. I spoke with Pepe and he told me it was a clear penalty."

Ancelotti was nevertheless disappointed with a performance to offer concern ahead of this weekend's derby against Atletico Madrid, who are yet to drop a point.

After a goalless first half a Ronaldo free-kick fired Madrid ahead only for Richmond Boakye to head newly-promoted Elche level in stoppage-time.

The late drama spared Madrid's blushes, but not Ancelotti's frustration.

"I am not happy. We need to play differently," he said.

"We suffered a lot during the match, particularly during the closing minutes of the match. The team controlled the match after Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the second half.

"The result is the most important thing, but it isn't enough, we need to play better.

"We won't win the derby if we play like we have done in this match, that's why I think we need to improve, play with more intensity and personality."

Ancelotti was full of praise for Elche, who now sit bottom of the Primera Division table without a win, but called on his side to speed up their play if they are to overcome the type of defensive tactics employed by their hosts.

"I don't like to talk about the opposition, but they played well, they were well organised in defence," he said.

"They were aggressive, compact and played with real intent at the end. I think that we are going to come across teams that defend well and are hard to break down.

"We need to come up with the different solutions. At the moment the team is playing slowly, there are no options between the lines and we play a lot down the wings and that makes it easy for the opposition's defence."