Real Madrid coach recalls that his team also didn’t trade high in the bookies when the last Champions League started and ended with raising the ‘orejona’
Carlo Ancelotti is not in the least concerned that the bookmakers will not put Real Madrid among the main favorites to win the Champions League. Moreover, he considers it a good omen, given what happened last year. “I’m not surprised. I see it as a good sign. Last year we had even less chance in the stats. This year we improved and we have a little more. What happened last year is going to happen, that we have until the end compete and hopefully we can compete in the final,” said the Whites coach.
The current King of Europe starts defending the title he won on May 28 in Paris visiting Celtic. A complicated rival, according to Ancelotti. “The game will be difficult. Celtic have good dynamics, they play with a lot of intensity. We know him and are prepared to start the group well,” said the coach.
The Italian knows that his team is always a rival to beat in his fetish league. “In this competition, Real Madrid has always been and will be respected, not only for what we achieved last year, but also for the history of this club. We can’t think much further ahead, we have to think we have to get through this group , win it, and then we’ll see what happens after the World Cup,” explained the Reggiolo coach, always cautious about the impact it could have on the future of the season the exotic World Cup held in the fall and which has temporarily compressed the group stage of the Champions League. “I don’t think we will have any problems until the World Cup. The players are ready, prepared and motivated to come to the World Cup in good physical condition. The question is how they will come back from the World Cup, you never know,” he warned. .
Despite the fact that the draw a priori yielded an affordable first stage for the fourteen-time European champion, Ancelotti does not want confidence. “It’s not an easy group. We know the teams very well. Celtic are doing very well and we have to respect them, just like we have to respect Leipzig and Shakhtar. In the groups there are surprises, it happened to the sheriff last year. It will be a balanced group’, says the transalpine.
He hid his cards when asked if there will be room in his squad on Tuesday for some players who have had fewer minutes so far. “If you can. I don’t know which are the least common,” interrupted Ancelotti, who was reminded that he would never be able to storm Celtic Park, even as a player. “It has been a very difficult stadium for my teams in the past. I have played several times: in the league, in the round of 16… It is a very difficult stadium, but with a fantastic atmosphere. I love it that my team is playing in an environment like this,” he said.
Finally, he referred to the level of Modric, who will play his 100th game in Europe in the Real Madrid shirt on Tuesday and who will turn 37 on Friday. “There is no explanation. He is a fantastic player, with a great attitude. These things combined make him one of the best players we have in Europe. We are going to celebrate his 37 years with a big party. Hopefully I will be invited.” he joked.
Source: La Verdad
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