MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, made it clear this Monday that he does not consider himself “a legend” of the club, a condition that leaves players like Toni Kroos, Luka Modric or Nacho Fernández who “have earned the possibility of choosing what they go to do in the future”, while he celebrated that Andrey Lunin has been able to demonstrate “his characteristics with continuity” during the absence due to injury of Kepa Arrizabalaga, starter against Union Berlin.
“I am not a Real Madrid legend, just a coach. Legends are the players who have had a fantastic career and for me it has to end here,” Ancelotti said at a press conference prior to the Champions League match against Union Berlin on whether he should retire from the Madrid team.
In this sense, he stressed that what German midfielder Toni Kroos decides next year “will be respected by everyone.” “There are players here who choose what they want to do and the club has such great respect for them that they have earned the possibility of choosing what they are going to do in the future,” he concluded.
The one from Reggiolo confirmed that this Tuesday Kepa Arrizabalaga will play in goal. “I don't think about being fair or unfair because leaving someone on the bench would be unfair every game. The good thing is that Lunin has had the opportunity that he didn't have in the past to continuously demonstrate his characteristics and he has done it well. We are “very happy to have a trustworthy goalkeeper. Kepa did not need to prove it because of his career, but we must keep in mind that Kepa has always done very well,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the match and whether it is a good opportunity to give Jude Bellingham a rest, the Madrid coach warned that his “idea” is to see “well how those who played on Saturday against Betis have recovered” to “choose the best eleven.” “Those who played are not tired and none of them have problems. If someone has recovered well, they will rest, but the idea is not to rotate for the sake of it, it is done if there is a risk of having problems,” he stressed.
Questioned again about the Englishman and his comparison with Kaká, he recalled that the Brazilian “reached the area with the ball a lot, but he did not have the quality of reaching the area without the ball that Bellingham has.” “We don't always play with a fixed striker and that gives him more opportunity to reach the center of the area with more space to be able to finish. With Kaká it was a different system,” Ancelotti considered.
He also praised Brahim Díaz, who during his time at Milan “did very well defensively.” “He worked a lot and has returned in optimal tactical condition. He always positions himself very well without the ball and that is quite rare to see in a striker with as much quality as him because it is usually more difficult for these players to find the tactical position without the ball,” he stated. he.
“Real Madrid, by history, is always a candidate to win this competition, no matter what happens in the group stage. We have done well and obviously it is always difficult to win it, but we have the quality to be able to fight until the end,” he highlighted about the options. of his team to win the Champions League.
For now, they have achieved the goal of passing the first phase and as first. “We have done well so far and we want to finish well, with a good game and a good image. This is a special competition and we have to respect it with a good game, plus our professionalism and seriousness is also at stake,” he admitted.
The Real Madrid coach spoke of a Union Berlin team that “has changed its system and game strategy with its new coach.” “They are going to play more offensive than in the first leg and they are a team that we have to respect. They want to win their first game in this competition and it will be entertaining and even,” he said.
Finally, he referred to Girona's victory against FC Barcelona, although he avoided “making a speech about the tactics of the game.” “It was a very entertaining match where both teams played trying to win the match and Girona was better because they were more successful. Girona's ability to be at this level with so much personality and so much character is surprising,” he said.