Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he wanted his side to play even better after Saturday afternoon's 4-0 La Liga win at Granada. It was Los Blancos' 11th straight in all competitions.
Madrid went ahead inside two minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo's 17th league goal of the season, and were in control throughout with James Rodriguez's superb volley, Karim Benzema's stabbed finish and James' late-close range effort rounding out the scoring.
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were also outstanding in a straightforward victory. Madrid have now scored 46 goals and conceded just seven while racking up those 11 consecutive victories. Next up for Real Madrid is an out of sorts Liverpool at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Italian coach told his post-match news conference at Los Carmenes that he was happy with how things were going, but still thought his team could play even better.
"We are playing with quality, concentration and a lot of sacrifice," Ancelotti said. "When a team fights the quality comes through better. We must work to keep this run going. We are playing well, we have a lot of points which is important, while playing well. Of course we have weaknesses, but in general I am satisfied with what we are doing."
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Ronaldo's goal was made by a Benzema assist, while the Portugal captain returned the favour to help his strike-partner get on the scoresheet. Ancelotti said the pair -- who are currently playing close together up top in a 4-4-2 formation -- were linking well.
"Cristiano is a fantastic player," he said. "He opened the scoring from a perfect assist from Benzema. To talk about Cristiano is starting to be difficult. There are no words to describe him. He is a fantastic player."
Ancelotti was again questioned about whether the recent good form means Gareth Bale will struggle to regain a first team place when he returns from a lower-back muscle injury. The coach again suggested the 100 million euro signing would return to the XI.
"Everyone thinks that Bale is a problem and he is a player who can help us to be better," he said. "I am happy with how the team is playing, but we can always try and do something else."
Neymar's unstoppable effort in last week's 3-1 'Clasico' win at home to Barcelona is now the only goal Iker Casillas has conceded in the club captain and goalkeeper's last five games.
Ancelotti put such all-round soundness down to the hard work and extra effort of his players, while saying he was not overly-happy with the few late chances Granada had generated.
"The work was the same as ever," Ancelotti said. "We are good physically and must appreciate the work of the doctors and physical trainers. It is true we scored the first goal early. We were able to play with more spaces up front. At 0-4, we dropped our concentration, logically. We let them have chances that they should not have had."
Right-back Dani Carvajal, who limped off with an apparent thigh muscle problem midway through the first half, looks unlikely to now face Liverpool on Tuesday. Ancelotti said that Carvajal's replacement Alvaro Arbeloa, and left-back Marcelo, had important roles in the team against sides which defended in numbers through the centre.
"When we play against a team which closes up in the centre, it is important to use the wings," he said. "We have done that with Cristiano and James and the fullbacks have pushed on. Carvajal did so well, and in the second half Marcelo and Arbeloa. It is important to use the full-backs to attack when a team closes up in the centre."