'We had difficulty opening the score': Ancelotti praises India after Brazil's 4-0 win

Carlo Ancelotti (PTI Photo)

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India’s effort and defensive organisation despite Brazil beating the hosts 4-0 in an international friendly in Kolkata on Saturday, October 3.

He said India stayed organised, defended well and looked to attack on the counter, making the game a useful test for both sides.India managed to stay competitive for the first 25 minutes before Brazil gradually took control of the match. Once Estevao opened the scoring, Brazil created more chances and eventually secured a comfortable victory.

“They tried to play their game. They defended, they were organised, they tried to play counter-attack.

I think they played a good game. We had difficulty opening the score, but the moment we opened the score with Estevao, we had more opportunities to better control the game," Ancelotti said while speaking at the post-match press conference.He also felt the match was valuable for Brazil, especially for players looking to prove themselves.“It was a good experience. We gave a minute to the players that maybe was good for them to have a test.

I think it was a good game, entertaining, with good intensity," Ancelotti added.

Brazil dominated the numbers

Brazil clearly controlled possession, keeping 65.8% of the ball compared to India’s 34.2%. The visitors also had 20 shots, with seven on target, while India managed nine attempts and three on target.

Brazil had 29 attacking touches inside India’s penalty area compared to India’s 12. Their passing was also much more effective, with 90.3% accuracy from 652 passes, while India completed 83.6% of their 330 passes.India made 23 clearances and six tackles, showing the amount of defensive work they had to do. Brazil, meanwhile, recorded 14 clearances and 13 tackles.Despite the heavy defeat, Ancelotti viewed the match as more than just the final score. The friendly also gave him an opportunity to assess some of Brazil’s emerging players against an organised Indian side.