Real Madrid plays tomorrow in Montilivi against Girona and Carlo Ancelotti prepares an eleven with many rotations in a League that he already sees as far away. The Madrid coach passed by the Valdebebas press room this Monday morning (his 101st press conference of the season, as he stressed) and explained that the 11 points that separate him from Barcelona do not reflect the quality between one team and the other: “There is not an 11-point difference if we compare the quality of the two teams. We have shown it when we have faced each other. The small details have determined this distance that we want to close in the next games,” he said.
Carlo Ancelotti praised Girona and took the opportunity to comment that his team has several casualties for tomorrow: “Girona plays very nice football. They are an organized team, especially with the ball when they have possession. And we have casualties: Benzema, who He has a blow, Camavinga, who has had another one…Ceballos can’t play because of cards. Rodrygo hasn’t trained but I think he’ll be fine for tomorrow. Mendy isn’t here. Alaba either, and I hope he can be recovered for the final of the cup”.
Ancelotti was also asked if he would like Leo Messi to return to Barcelona next season. The Italian smiled before answering: “Messi can do whatever he wants. Barcelona too. It’s not an issue for me. I like it as a player. For the Spanish League it can be nice,” he said.
Ancelotti is much more concerned about Benzema’s fitness and health than Messi’s. The coach spoke about his French striker: “Benzema will recover from the blow he suffered against Celta and will play against AlmerÃa and Real Sociedad. He is too important for us. He has shown a very good level in recent games. He has to show this level playing and not preserving it. When he is well, he wants to play and we do too”, he commented.
The coach also had good words for Rodrygo: “He had a little knee problem that he’s handling well. Today he was out of training due to an intestinal problem. If he’s okay tomorrow, he’s going to play. He’s not a typical striker. He is doing very well and hopefully he can progress, because I see that he has a margin”.
Another player who marks the current situation of Madrid is Marco Asensio, one of those whose contract ends on June 30 and it is not known if he will renew. Ancelotti wants him to renew but he doesn’t say so in such an exhaustive way as he has done with other players, like Kroos, Modric or Benzema himself. “I like him a lot as a player. Because of the characteristics that many coaches and many clubs like, I hope he can stay here with us,” he assured.
Much drier was Ancelotti with Eden Hazard. In fact, the coach acknowledged that he doesn’t speak to the Belgian: “We haven’t talked much and he has said so. I don’t ask the players to come and talk. If they need to talk, I’m always ready.” he settled
Ancelotti defended his rotation policy: “The players understand it very well. First, because of everyone’s enthusiasm for playing for Real Madrid, both veterans and youngsters. This allows me to better manage the squad and the decisions I have to make , which are always difficult, whoever the players are. The other day I had to leave Lucas Vázquez out and it hasn’t been easy. But that’s the way it is. The fact that he’s so excited to play for this club allows him to handle these situations better “, he commented.
The coach last spoke about Camavinga and Courtois. He said of the Frenchman that “he is taking advantage of the time he has played as a winger to improve his limits. He is very young and has to mature in experience and tactical knowledge. Technically he has nothing to learn and physically he has the engine of a Ferrari”.
Ancelotti also commented that Lunin will be able to play from here until the end of the season: “We are thinking that Courtois will rotate. Although if Courtois is well and has no problems and discomfort, he can continue. Lunin did well in the games he played and, by the way, I don’t rule out playing other games again between now and the end of the season”.