“I saw Atletico play against Athletic and it was a very entertaining game. Then I heard from Simeone that these kinds of games moved him. I agree with that,” said the Italian coach.
Carlo Ancelotti has no problem with his Real Madrid being “cholista”. Moreover, he considers it a compliment. This is how he defended it, at least on the eve of the duel that the Chamartín team will hold against Elche in the Martínez Valero, which corresponds to the tenth day of the competition. “It’s a compliment, it’s a good thing. I saw Atletico play against Athletic and it was a very entertaining game. After the game I heard Simeone say that these kinds of games excite him. I agree. have a team with this kind of commitment, it excites you,” said the always Italian diplomat, an expert at solving seemingly thorny problems with the slime that characterizes him.
Despite the fact that the clash at the Elche stadium will measure two teams who are at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of sensations and results, Ancelotti faces the meeting with his guard up. The victory in the classic has led to the euphoria of the leader, but the one from Reggiolo does not want to trust that the balloon could puncture. “We need to push the preparation for the match a little more mentally because it’s normal to have maximum concentration in top-level matches, but it’s hard to have it after a game that has cost you a lot physically and mentally.” . We have to take into account that tomorrow, just like Sunday, we will play three points,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, the day after Real Madrid ruled at the Ballon d’Or gala, Ancelotti devoted much of his performance to analyzing the awards Benzema and Courtois received. “We are all very proud of what Karim and Thibaut have achieved. And of all those who have come close to this position, Modric, Vinicius… then congratulate those who have won, Gavi, Levandowski, Alexia Putellas, Mané. And also to Manchester City, a club that we have a lot of respect for and that have had a fantastic season,” said the coach.
Similarly, Ancelotti alluded to the best club award that the ‘citizens’ received, which caused blisters at the end of a campaign that saw Real Madrid become champions of Europe for the fourteenth time. “I don’t know the criteria well because they don’t talk about the team. Madrid is the best team and that’s why they won the Champions League. I respect that price. We received the most important award in May,” said the transalpine.
Ancelotti stopped at the figure of Benzema. “We are very happy. We feel a bit of ourselves. He said he was very proud of this award and thanked all his colleagues. It is an individual award for the player who did better last season, but with the help of the team. We have to start thinking about the next Ballon d’Or. He can put in some pieces tomorrow,” he said of the “9”, more mature in the Italian’s second stage in Chamartín. “He has more responsibility and feels much more of a leader than he did eight years ago. Technically not much has changed because the quality we see today is the quality of eight years ago. What has changed is his responsibility towards the team and his attitude.”
He regretted that Courtois, winner of the Yashin Trophy that crowned him as best goalkeeper last season, had to settle for seventh in the Ballon d’Or standings. “Goalkeepers have a handicap. The striker who scores is revealed. A pivot is very complicated. I have never been in the top positions of this award. It’s a good thing to think that a goalkeeper comes in seventh. I am very proud of Karim and Thibaut. What surprises me is that there are players who are not on the list of 30: Kroos, Valverde, Militao, Alaba… Someone may think I have a conflict of interest, but of course I do,” he said.
Ancelotti believes Vinicius’ eighth place in that ranking is an incentive for the winger, who was expected to be in a higher position. “It’s fair because it allows him to try to improve on what he did last year. Last year it was new for almost everyone to see a player with this quality and continuity. It gives you motivation to do better .”
Finally, he turned the page on Mbappe. “The future of this club is already written, I said it last year. Young players like Rodrygo, Vinicius, Camavinga, Tchouaméni or Militao have already written the future of this team. Next year’s roster will not be this year’s roster, but these players have already shown what Madrid’s future will be,” he said when asked if he thinks Bondy’s attacker is beyond Real Madrid.
Source: La Verdad
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