After the Spanish Super Cup setback, the Whites risk their survival in the Copa del Rey against a Villarreal suspicious of a “wounded animal”
Real Madrid is surrounded by flames. The setback Barça inflicted on them in the Spanish Super Cup has exacerbated the depression the whites have been going through since RB Leipzig, Girona and Rayo Vallecano went bankrupt, with Qatar’s World Cup just around the corner, the solid image they have in the first two competition months. The memory of that block that founded the League and the Champions League between April and May last year also seems to have been consumed by fire. The fiery praise of the past has given way to sharp criticism. “Everyone considers Real Madrid to be dead,” Carlo Ancelotti resignedly accepted on Wednesday, a coach who knows from personal experience how fleeting football memory is. “But tomorrow (this Thursday) is an opportunity to get out of this dynamic,” the Italian immediately clarified.
Ancelotti’s words served to expose the vengeful desire that exists in a touched but not sunken dressing room. “We have to be calm and confident because the season is very long. We are going to play against strong teams, but we never give up. Let’s get out of this. If I don’t know, it could be tomorrow, Sunday… but we are going out. This team will fight to the end in all competitions,” said the commander of a troop who had a chance to put out the fire before the perimeter burst.
The Copa del Rey, traditionally at the bottom of Real Madrid’s list of goals, is now presented as a possible balm. That’s why Ancelotti goes with everything. Or with what’s left, to be precise. Because to the casualties due to an injury to Alaba, Tchouaméni and Lucas Vázquez is added that of Carvajal, with adductor discomfort. In addition, Modric needs petrol, so Carletto left the Croat in Madrid in the hope that he will fill the tank as soon as possible. He needs you more than ever.
In the Estadio de la Cerámica, a cursed temple for the Chamartín team since February 2017, Courtois and Benzema, the shield and the spear, will take their place. Also expected is Nacho, whose cautious nature Ancelotti hopes will carry over to the rest of a defense that is more questioned than ever. “He is very reliable and can contribute good things at the moment. We were very optimistic in defense in this section and we conceded six goals. Five of them, except for Alaba’s penalty, we could have avoided with pessimism,” said the coach , who summoned the Castilistas Vinicius Tobias and Mario Martín for the dispute with a packed Villarreal.
The groguetbox has not fallen since November 6, when he knelt against Mallorca. He then linked six victories together, until Celta ended the streak with a draw at Balaídos last Friday. Fundamental to this successful run was the return of Gerard Moreno, the scorer of five goals and three assists that have boosted the blue team led by Quique Setién.
The coach reaped four setbacks in his jump into the ring, but victory over Espanyol on the fourteenth matchday of the League served as a turning point for a team that has since won three cup runs against Santa Amalia, Guijuelo and Cartagena, also starring in an escalation in the regularity tournament that allowed him to establish himself in European positions.
Particularly sweet was the victory over Real Madrid that he celebrated just twelve days ago. The controversy that arose as a result of two highly controversial penalties, one per side, did not take away an ounce of merit from the brilliant performance of Villarreal, who were superior to an impotent opponent from start to finish. “It’s good for us to motivate ourselves and to know we can beat them, to base ourselves on some game situations, but it will be different,” Pau Torres warned ahead of Thursday’s game. “I don’t mind that I’m in a bad moment or tired. I am sure he will win in the best conditions and knowing that he is injured. And any injured animal is much more dangerous,” Setién warned.
The Spaniard will be able to meet him with Foyth, who injured his shoulder against Celta but recovered in time. His match is crucial as it has been revealed to be an effective bailiff for Vinicius. The injured Kiko Femenía, Nicolas Jackson and Lo Celso, the suspended Pedraza and Danjuma, on their way to the Premier League, are absent from a side that has not set foot in their kingdom in the Cup since January 2019. There they have ambushed Real Madrid four times since then. Now prepare another trap.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
