The Italian coach has two of his pillars, playing at least a few minutes, even if they are not starters, and warns of the potential of Al-Hilal, base of the Saudi team and with players with experience in Europe
Carlo Ancelotti breathes easier as Real Madrid’s crowded infirmary empties. Before the final of the Club World Cup against Saudi Al-Hilal, “a very important game that doesn’t happen often in a football career”, it already has Benzema and Militao, the white offensive and defensive leaders, who, even if they do not not start as starters, if they are available to play for a few minutes if necessary. “Benzema and Militao came because we believe they have the ability to play, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. They train and then I decide whether to play or not,” the Italian coach stated categorically on the eve of the match.
Despite suspicions about the level of the rival and the tournament, Carletto attaches great importance to the duel and appreciates the quality of a more dangerous rival than his name implies. “Al-Hilal is a good team, with individual quality and many players from the Saudi Arabian national team who have done very well at the World Cup. Also with players with experience in Europe. We respect them a lot because they are also in the final stand after knocking out Flamengo,” he warned for the Saudi team, champion of the Asian Champions League in 2021.
“We have a big challenge. It was difficult to get here, we sacrificed a lot, and today is the day of the illusion and I ask the team to enjoy it,” he said, putting pressure on his team despite winning a title has been practically created for the European representative in recent years and therefore contains a trap that has a lot to lose in the event of a trip.
Ancelotti appreciates the excellent form of Dani Ceballos, who shone again against Al-Ahly despite starting from the bench and who is clamoring for a place in the eleven despite the Italian’s blind faith in his trio of starting midfielders. «Luka (Modric) has made a lot of progress physically in this part of the season and Aurélien (Tchouaméni) has returned after an injury… The line of the media has not changed much during this time, only the great moment of Ceballos, who It has been important for us,” explained the Madrid coach in this regard.
Precisely Tchouaméni, present in the press room with his coach and who continues to win minutes in search of the pinnacle of form that he reached in the first part of the season, supported Carletto’s thesis about the illusion that the game and the possibility of raising a trophy wakes up in a white locker room. “Becoming world champion with Madrid is a dream that can come true tomorrow. Last year we had a spectacular participation in the Champions League and also in the semi-finals,” said the French midfielder, the only purely defensive midfielder in the squad.
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.
