MADRID, 28 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, assured this Tuesday that “talking about the injured is disrespecting those who are going to play”, defending that his squad is “very good”, since it maintains the “level” despite “all the problems”, while praising the “special case” of Diego Pablo Simeone on the Atlético de Madrid bench, after “so many years in a club”, because “the life of a coach is much shorter” .
“Talking a lot about problems and injuries seems to me to lack respect for those who are going to play, who are doing very well. It is important to think about what we have, they are contributing in a way that was never expected. If we are capable of being at this level With all the problems, it shows that this squad is very good,” said the Italian in the preview of Real Madrid-Naples in the Champions League this Wednesday.
The injury list at Real Madrid reached up to nine players, a major setback for Ancelotti in putting together the starting eleven. The recoveries of Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos somewhat lightened the infirmary, which would include, at least for the continental duel, the Croatian Luka Modric due to muscle overload.
An exceptional situation that favors the entry of players from the white reserve team into the rotations. “Now we have to take advantage of the quality of the youth team,” said the Italian, who insisted that he has “a lot of confidence” in the Madrid youth team. “The work that Raúl (González) is doing is fantastic, they arrive ready to play with us,” he defended.
“Obviously I have to give priority to those who have played less (from the first team), like Lucas Vázquez, Brahim Díaz or Fran García. But I am calm, because those who are in the quarry are ready to play with us,” he reiterated.
Another of those who seems to be in the final stretch of his recovery is goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, which seems to relegate the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin to the bench, although “he has played very well” in the absence of the Basque. “Lunin is not going to think that it is his last game, because the day Kepa returns he will compete for the position with Lunin. He has earned it. The competition is good, we have two high-level goalkeepers who can contribute,” he explained.
The one who will not miss the important duel at the Santiago Bernabéu is the Englishman Jude Bellingham, already recovered from his shoulder problems, to continue his great season. “He is very intelligent, professional, serious and mature. That is why he has adapted well, but the most important thing is that he is a fantastic player, and these players can easily adapt to any football,” praised Ancelotti.
“THE CHANGE OF COACH WILL ADD MOTIVATION TO NAPLES”
“Tomorrow’s game allows us to finish the group stage (first), we have done very well. We want to play the best possible game, it is the most important thing. Reaching the level of a legend like Miguel Muñoz makes me happy, let’s keep going” , commented on the duel against the Italians, in which he can equal Miguel Muñoz’s 41 victories as Real Madrid coach with the most European Cup wins.
The rival this Wednesday will be the Italian Naples, now directed by Walter Mazzarri, a coach who “knows Italian football well” and “a great friend” of Ancelotti. “The change of coach always adds motivation to the players, that’s what happened against Atalanta, they showed it. It can provide experience and knowledge of the game,” he praised.
“The first leg was balanced, with different phases. Tomorrow’s game will not be very different in this sense. The Napoli counterattack is very dangerous, it is an aspect that we have to take into account to avoid problems,” analyzed the Italian coach. , who does not see this Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu as “revenge.”
Faced with insistent questions from the media about his renewal with Real Madrid, Ancelotti did not want to make any progress, “like at the beginning of the season.” “I’m not talking about my future,” he concluded, before ironically commenting on Dani Carvajal’s statements assuring that he is “the best coach” for the Madrid team. “You’re right, I have asked that they renew it until 2030, and renew together,” he joked with a laugh.
Thus, he avoided comparing his situation with that of the Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone at Atlético. “Simeone is a special case, like Ferguson and Wenger. The life of a coach is much shorter, congratulations to Simeone for being able to spend so many years at a club,” he said, before confessing his “affection” for him. AC Milan and Real Madrid.
“I have a lot of affection for all the teams I worked for. I do NOT want to disrespect anyone by making a classification… But I have something special with Milan, I was a player and coach there, and Real Madrid, because it is the biggest club in the world. world,” he said.
Finally, Ancelotti recalled that criticism is “normal” in football, which is why he did not want to give advice to Xavi Hernández for the current situation of FC Barcelona. “He has the experience to handle all this well. He is younger, but he knows the environment very well and has all the resources to handle this situation well,” he concluded.