MADRID, 10 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, stressed that “it would be important to solve the group stage” of the Champions League with a victory this Tuesday against the Ukrainian Shakthar Donetsk, and assured that so far none of his players “has dropped arms” for lack of opportunities.
“It would be important to solve the group stage now. Regarding the mental profile, it can give you more energy for the national competition, but we have to bear in mind that Real Madrid in the Champions League cannot not play a serious game. Even if we qualify this Tuesday , we want to win the two remaining games and make them complete”, Ancelotti warned this Monday at a press conference.
Despite the possibility of closing this pass, the Italian will possibly bet on the rotations and admitted that Vinicius Jr is one of those who has to “evaluate because he has played all the games”, while Karim Benzema is “fine”. “I am quite clear that the match is starting because they have rested like Kroos and Mendy and they are fresh,” he confirmed.
On the other hand, within the fact that he does not have “a very clear line-up”, he warned that “it may or may not” that the Belgian Eden Hazard, one of those who is having few opportunities lately, plays from the start.
Therefore, Ancelotti stressed that “it is very difficult” to give minutes to everyone. “The players get angry and each one does it in their own way, but in this group everyone’s reaction is very positive. It’s quite normal because everyone wants to play, but no one has lowered their arms so far, in the end they are all very respectful of my decisions. I tell them: respect the person, it could be that you get angry with the coach,” he said.
The one who will not be in Warsaw will be the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, although his sciatica is “much better” and the planned “plan” is for him to start “training on Thursday to be ready for Sunday”, the day of the Clasico against FC Barcelona .
“Lunin is doing well, he is young and has a lot of quality, these games help him to accumulate experience and knowledge, which is the only thing he lacks at the moment because he has the quality of a great goalkeeper”, he pointed out about the Ukrainian, who did not He talks too much about what his country is going through. “He’s quite shy, he doesn’t talk too much, but it’s normal that everything that’s happening affects him like everyone else. We have to show solidarity and if he needs something, be there to help him,” he added.
The one from Reggiolo referred to the difficult situation that Shakhtar is going through due to the invasion. “I have spoken little with Igor (Jovicevic, coach of the Ukrainian team). They work with many difficulties and we are in solidarity with them and we have a lot of respect for them. Playing with this kind of difficulty is good for them and they want to give a good image to the Ukrainian people who is suffering,” he said.
Asked about Xavi Hernández’s words after beating Celta on Sunday and acknowledging that it is important to do it without playing well, the Madrid coach explained that “the motivational and mental aspect is very important in football”.
“When you win games you don’t deserve, it’s because of character and personality, and also because you have the capacity to suffer. The time has passed in football when you could win 4-0 or 5-0. Now everything is more even, almost everyone the teams are well organized and it’s hard to score”, argued Ancelotti.