The Italian coach considers the 0-4 of seven months ago forgotten and thinks this will be another classic
“Last year’s game won’t affect us, it’s another classic and we have the illusion of playing against the whole world. It is not a game of life or death, but it is special even though the season is very long and we would like to win it,” assured Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday at the press conference before his team’s game against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Italian coach is aware of the importance of hitting the table against the eternal rival and of what it would emotionally mean to beat the Catalans after the 0-4 defeat suffered on the same stage last March.
That day, Real Madrid fell on a very different Barcelona. Xavi was already on the bench and there were green shoots in the Catalans, but it was a team gearing up for a landing of acquisitions in the summer market. “They have the resources to make it a great season. They’ve only drawn one game in the League and they’re in good momentum in the Championship, although they’ve had some issues in the Champions League, something that’s in that competition can happen, but in the League they were spectacular,” he said. Ancelotti, knowing he cannot trust his rival, despite the erratic trajectory he has had in Europe.
The Real Madrid coach, who faces his ninth classic, declined to reveal any of the cards he had hidden before the clash, even assuring that he has done nothing out of the ordinary for the game ahead. “I’m preparing it as always, but we have to add what this game represents for everyone, the quality of the two teams and the emotional aspect, the pressure,” he stated before adding the physical aspect as one of the keys that will unlock yours. can make take the cat to the water. “It’s true that we are better in the second half and that’s something to take into account, but I don’t know if it will affect the game,” he said.
Last season’s 0-4 also provided a surprising line-up for Ancelotti with Modric at the top of the attack. The experiment was not successful and the Italian rules out repetition of the formula. “In football it is clear that everything has been invented for a long time. Last year I wanted to invent something and they gave me a stick,” the coach joked, who knows he can count on Karim Benzema in that position this season, whom he has seen “much better” this week.
The Frenchman will be the spearhead in a team in which Courtois will remain out of circulation due to his physical problems. “He’s pretty good, but he hasn’t trained much and is being sacked. We’re going to see if he can play next Sunday,” said Ancelotti. The Belgian will be the big absentee after Rüdiger, a “warrior” for Ancelotti, stepped in the call and is available to be one of the players responsible for stopping the Lewandowskis, Dembélé and his company.
Source: La Verdad
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