The Real Madrid coach admits his team makes “positioning and reading errors” and demands “not to give away more” in San Mamés
Carlo Ancelotti is concerned about Real Madrid’s mismatches when it comes to pressure and admits his team is making “positioning and reading errors” that have plagued them in recent games. “Sometimes we don’t push and we have the time, sometimes the line isn’t together. We sometimes go out under pressure when we shouldn’t go out. Sometimes individual decisions are made that affect us. Our area is a friend, not foe, that’s what I say to the players. We have to control our house well. Anything that can get behind the line can be a danger, good control is essential. Before you press, you have to control your back well.” he claimed in the preview of his team’s game against Athletic in San Mamés, which corresponds to the eighteenth match day of the competition.
The whites come to the meeting after struggling to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Thursday after coming from behind against Villarreal in the second half. “The reactions were very good. We played effective football, but also made mistakes. You can’t train, you can only recover, so we watch videos to avoid those mistakes and not repeat them. Tomorrow’s game is very difficult, intensity and ideas will be important, and not give away what we gave away,” the Italian explained, setting his sights on the high-flying duel at La Catedral.
There he will see the faces of Ernesto Valverde, a colleague by profession whom he holds in high esteem. “Ernesto is a good friend, we have a good relationship and he is a great coach. His teams always have a very clear idea, they are organized. I have a lot of respect for him,” Ancelotti said.
Real Madrid will face the victims of Alaba, Tchouaméni, Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez and Hazard, although Modric will return to the squad. The Italian hopes to find troops again next Thursday for the cup conflict against Atlético. “Carvajal, Alaba and Tchouaméni can return for the derby,” said Ancelotti, who believes his team is “improving little by little, with the games, its condition.”
The coach, recalling that Atlético “is a great rival” and predicting an “entertaining” derby, sought to mitigate the controversy that had arisen as a result of Tchouaméni’s presence in an NBA game while Real Madrid faced Villarreal at the Ceramics Stadium. “He has made his apology public, he was wrong, but he is a young boy and this is the end of the matter,” he said.
He closed ranks with his footballers when asked about the form of most veterans. “This squad is untouchable, not just the veterans, it’s players who give everything. Like Ceballos, who gave everything. For me it’s all those who wrote the history of the club. But that doesn’t mean they have to play all the matches,” said the transalpine player, who appreciated the efforts of Asensio, Ceballos and Nacho, three players whose contracts expire on June 30 and who shone at La Cerámica. show that they have motivation, will and concentration. The fact that they end their contract does not affect them at all,’ he dissected.
Finally, he arranged a possible departure from Camavinga to Arsenal after the English press alluded to the ‘Gunners’ alleged interest in loaning the young French midfielder until the end of the season. “Eduardo is untouchable, just like Modric and like Kroos,” he proclaimed.
Source: La Verdad
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