Carlo Ancelotti is going through one of his best moments at Real Madrid. “I’m on cloud nine,” he said Sunday after winning the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh. In his appearance today in Valdebebas, prior to the round of 16 of the Cup that his team is playing at the Metropolitano, he commented that to get him out of the cloud he only has to be eliminated. The Italian coach knows that a complicated challenge awaits him: “I am convinced that it will be more difficult than in the Super Cup. It is another title, with two teams that can win the Copa del Rey. That increases the importance: it is a direct eliminator and we “We are focused on doing our best to win.”

Ancelotti does not believe that Atlético will mind playing these derbies. In fact, it is the only team that has beaten Madrid this season (3-1 in the league). “Atlético does not have a trauma with us. Each game is different and this one is not in the League. We have to take that into account and everything changes. There may be extra time, penalties. The above does not count,” he assured.

The Madrid coach doesn’t care at all that Atlético has decided not to give his team a pass: “The only thing I think is that I respect the clubs’ decisions. If they do it, perfect; if not, perfect anyway. I don’t give it any importance. “. Then, he insisted: “Atleti does things differently than us and I don’t get involved in that. When it’s our turn to choose, we will choose what is best for us.”

Asked if his 4-1 defeat of Barcelona on Sunday had put Xavi on the ropes, he denied it. “I have not put anyone on the ropes; I respect all my colleagues. This is a very complicated job. We know very well that when things do not go well, the coach is responsible. May it go well (for Xavi). He has all the tools to do their job well,” he said.

The Italian coach feels optimistic, but with his feet on the ground: “We are on a very good streak and I don’t know when it will stop, but one day it will. We can’t win every game. When it stops, we have to be ready to go out quickly from the difficult moment.

Ancelotti was also asked about Vinícius’ current form: “He has returned to his best level. He needed time. He is learning to play more inside and that makes him more dangerous, less predictable. I liked what he said better than the three goals”. He was referring to when he acknowledged the Brazilian that sometimes talks too much.

In his press conference, at the same time as Ancelotti’s, Simeone made it clear how motivated Atlético is: “It is clear that tomorrow is not just another game because there is a tie involved: there is no margin for them or for us. We need our people as they usually are in the Metropolitan and we need us to transmit to them from within.”

The Argentine coach made it clear why his team is not going to give Real Madrid a pass: “Nothing changes from last time. We have great respect for them and I send a big greeting to the coach and the players. But first there are our people , which we respect.”

Simeone spoke about Madrid: “They have the ability to win the game without having control. That is hierarchy and they have it. But we can play well and as soon as we can grow and improve, especially on my part, the team It will grow a lot.”

Asked what Atlético is missing, Simeone responded:  “We need to grow in big duels. We have to improve individually. Football is always duels. Matches end up being duels and whoever ends up winning more duels has more chances of winning. When we can improve in that area, we will improve as a team.”

And he continued: “They have players with a significant physical build. We have shorter people. Quality is in mental speed, not in legs. Hopefully we have the mental speed that the game demands of us.”

From what he learned from the defeat in the Super Cup, Simeone commented: “I think that in the Super Cup we resolved the play that was Joselu’s goal poorly. And everything serves as situations to improve and hopefully we can correct them to continue game by game. We will look for where we think we can harm them. They come with the positive energy of playing a good game against us and Barcelona. He is in a great moment of form and enthusiasm: we will find ourselves against the best rival.”