Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was happy with his team's performance after Tuesday's narrower than expected 1-0 Champions League Group B win over Liverpool at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, while refusing to be drawn into the controversy over Reds manager Brendan Rogers' shock team selection.
Karim Benzema's first half strike was enough to ensure a full-strength Madrid progressed to the last 16, and have all but ensured they will win the group even with two more games remaining.
With Liverpool having taken to the field missing regulars including Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli, it seemed Madrid might go on and add many more goals. But the home side missed the few clear chances they did create, even as home goalkeeper Iker Casillas was largely untroubled all night.
The Blancos boss told his post-match news conference that he was happy with the win -- his side's 12th on the bounce in all competitions -- even if they had not hit the goalscoring heights of previous outings.
"It was a good game, we played at a very high rhythm," Ancelotti said. "We scored in the first half and then controlled the game without having any risks at the back. We tried to score more goals, had many chances, but the game was under control and deserved win in the end."
The former Chelsea, Milan and Paris Saint Germain boss refused to be drawn by reporters questions asking if he had expected to face a team shorn of all of its biggest names.
"I cannot judge the Liverpool team, as I do not know their reasons," Ancelotti said. "Maybe as they are playing many games they want to put in fresh players to be able to be put on more defensive pressure. So it did not surprise me."
The game was a frustrating one for Cristiano Ronaldo, who had ten attempts at the target, but could not manage the goal he needed to draw level with Raul Gonzalez as the Champions League's leading goalscorer ever.
Ancelotti denied that Ronaldo would have been disappointed with how the game went, given the main thing for everyone was that the team won.
"I do not think Cristiano is anxious about scoring goals," he said. "He was focused on the game. We wanted to win and we won. He played a good game, tried to link-up with his teammates. He did not score tonight, but he will in the next game. He is already focused on that now."
Gareth Bale, who played the last 30 minutes as a substitute on his return after five games out with a lower-back muscle injury, actually came closer to scoring when cracking a shot off the crossbar late on. Ancelotti suggested the Wales international would return to the starting line-up against Rayo Vallecano this weekend, while joking he would find it hard to leave anyone out.
"Bale did well," he said. "I did not start him as thought it better after his injury to play 30 minutes. He felt fine, and it is clear that on Saturday -- when we play with 12 -- he will start the game."
In what might have been a reference to Rodgers' surprise team selection, Ancelotti said it was unlikely he would rest players for his side's remaining two group fixtures, even with the World Club Cup coming up in December.
"It will not change much, as we always have games to play," he said. "We need to first ensure we top the group. Then we will have to prepare the games to come as we always do, to respect the competition. As we are playing all the time, we must prepare for the World Club Cup by playing."
Basel's 4-0 win over Ludogorets in Group B's other game means Liverpool will now likely have to win their two remaining fixtures -- away in Bulgaria and then at home to the Swiss champions -- if they are to progress to the knock-out stages.
"All teams have quality, but for their experience, and for their history too Liverpool should progress," Ancelotti said. "But they need to win both their last games and I do not think it will be easy."