ANCELOTTI THANKED ALL HIS PLAYERS AND THE CLUB DESPITE LOSING THE SUPERCOPA TO ATLETICO

Despite losing the Supercopa to rivals Ateltico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the Spanish Super Cup defeat paled in significance compared to the long-awaited 'Décima' victory in Lisbon in May.

Carlo Ancelotti giving instruction on the sidelines to Coentrao in the Supercopa clash at the Calderon

Atlético Madrid claimed the first trophy of the Spanish season by defeating city Ancelotti's led side in the Spanish Super Cup, thanks to a 1-0 second leg victory over Los Blancos on Friday night at the Vicente Calderón. New striker Mario Mandzukic's second minute goal held up the whole way as the Rojiblancos earned the silverware thanks to a 2-1 advantage on aggregate.

The Real Madrid coach said: "We can consider the Super Cup as the final game of last season. And Real won three cups last season".

"I personally want to thank all the players and the club, because we've achieved something great. Losing today beats losing in Lisbon", he added.

There was talk out of the Real Madrid camp that head coach Carlo Ancelotti would opt for new arrival Keylor Navas over Iker Casillas in goal, but in the end the Italian stuck with the Spanish veteran. Joining Casillas was a back four of Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao. The midfield was anchored by Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos while up front Cristiano Ronaldo was still hampered by the injury he sustained in Tuesday first leg so his spot was conceded to new arrival James. The Colombian joined up with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack.

Atletico Madrid's lifting of the Spanish Super Cup and beating their cross-town rivals at the Calderón for the first time in 15 years, Atlético went a small way towards exorcising the demons from their Champions League loss in Lisbon.

The 'Rojiblancos' faithful hadn't seen their team triumph in a derby at the Calderón since June 1999, with Real owning a record of 13 wins and three draws in their neighbours' back-yard going into Friday night's match.

Diego Simeone's men changed all that, killing two birds with one stone to end that streak and claim their second 'Supercopa' trophy in the process.

You have to go all the way back to Raddy Antic's second stint in charge for Atleti's previous home triumph over Real, a 3-1 win thanks to goals from José Mari, Jordi Lardín and Juninho (Fernando Morientes scored for 'Los Blancos').