Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said his substitutes had changed the game in his team's 3-2 comeback win at Villarreal on Sunday evening, which returned Los Blancos to the top of the La Liga standings.
Madrid looked in deep trouble at 2-0 down with an hour played at the Estadio de la Ceramica -- especially as Barcelona's 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid earlier in the day had seen the Catalans leapfrog them in the table.
But a whirlwind finish to the game saw Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo (penalty) and substitute Alvaro Morata all score as Zidane's side roared back to take a huge step in the title race.
Madrid now remain one point ahead of the Blaugrana outfit in the table, with third placed Sevilla a further two points back, and Zidane's team having a game in hand on both their chasers.
The Los Blancos coach told his postmatch news conference that he was extra pleased to get the three points considering Barca had put pressure on them earlier.
"At 2-0 down you must change something," Zidane said. "We changed and it went well for us. The players who came on did very well. We made an attacking change, played more in their half, and it came out well.
"We got three points which are very important for us, against a very good opponent. We are very happy. With what had happened today, it was important to get the three points and remain leader."
Asked by a local reporter if Isco and Morata had shown with their displays off the bench that they "deserve more playing time," Zidane accepted the point, while suggesting the young Spaniards would remain as backups.
"Of course [Isco and Morata] deserve more," he said. "They did very well, came on and changed the game. We are going to need all our players for sure."
Villarreal's players and bench were enraged by referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarding a penalty for handball against home captain Bruno Soriano with the game at 2-1. Yellow Submarine coach Fran Escriba was sent to the stands for his vehement complaints on the sideline, before Ronaldo calmly stepped up to convert his record 57th spot-kick in La Liga.
Zidane declined to get involved in the controversy: "The [Madrid] players said it was a penalty. I could not see it. And anyway I never get into talking about referees. He blew for it and that's it."
There was a scare for Madrid and Wales fans late on as the only just-fit-again Bale left the pitch after suffering a blow to his left ankle, the joint he hurt last November and was then sidelined for almost three months.
"Gareth just got a bang, I believe it is nothing more serious than that," Zidane said when asked to give details on the extent of the problem.
