Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted his side needed to improve after their rollercoaster 3-2 La Liga win at home to Malaga on Saturday afternoon.
A ding-dong first half at the Bernabeu saw Karim Benzema nod in the opener from two yards after Cristiano Ronaldo headed off the crossbar, Malaga's Diego Rolan equalise after a mistake from Toni Kroos, Casemiro almost immediately restore the lead with a bullet header from Kroos' corner, before Malaga had a second equaliser controversially disallowed by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
The visitors' Chory Castro did make it 2-2 early in the second half with some help from Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, before Ronaldo won it with a quarter-hour remaining when he smacked in the rebound after his penalty was saved by Malaga keeper Roberto.
With his team having succeeded in cutting the gap to leaders Barcelona to seven points ahead of the Blaugrana outfit's game at second placed Valencia on Sunday evening, the Los Blancos coach told the postgame news conference that the performance had not been great but the result was all important.
"We started well and got the first goal but they equalised," Zidane said. "We did not use our best weapon -- possession of the ball. There were a lot of losses of possession, the second half was also a bit difficult.
Ronaldo winner vs Malaga 171125 Getty Images
"We can say we are happy with the result, at 2-2 with time running out we got the third goal. Today there were some good things, but others not as we wanted. For us today three points, and to see what happens in the game tomorrow."
Ronaldo's goal was his first at the Bernabeu since May, and just his second in La Liga this season, although his coach said critics should not forget that opposition goalkeepers deserved some praise too.
"Cristiano had other chances to score too, two or three very good ones," Zidane said. "You must also look at the goalkeeper, today and in other games too. Cristiano did score, Karim too, and we must be positive."
Asked to explain Madrid's patchy form this season at the Bernabeu, where they have dropped points against Real Betis, Valencia and Levante, the former Galactico denied his players were not enjoying playing in front of their own fans.
"There is no explanation, we like to play here," Zidane said. "We have played good games here. Today we started well, but it's true that during the 90 minutes we did some things we do not normally do.
"When teams come here they play for their lives, and if we do not reach a very high level things can happen like today, difficulties for us. We can play better yes, we should play better yes, we lost the ball too many times today."
Asked if he was expecting any arrivals or departures in the January transfer window, Zidane was more firm in saying he did not want any of his current squad to leave.
"No exits for sure, but when the market opens anything can happen," he said. "We are happy with the squad we have, it is very deep, with quality. We know we can improve, but at the moment we have not spoken about any ins or outs."
Source: espn.co.uk