Real Madrid arrives in Leipzig without its best player, Jude Bellingham, and with significant losses in defense. Carlo Ancelotti seemed relatively confident in the press conference he gave yesterday prior to today’s match: “Without Bellingham we have won four out of four. I prefer to talk about those who are there than about those who are not there.”
The coach did not give any clues about who is going to play instead of the Englishman: “Brahim could be an option. I also consider Joselu. Leipzig is a very powerful team in the aerial ball, but I am not as concerned about centimeters as their transitions “I take into account that they have scored 16 goals in transition. They have Olmo, who you know well. There are many quality players in Leipzig. Carvajal has played very well as a center back. Maybe he will keep him,” Ancelotti said. With that option Tchouaméni would reinforce the midfield. He also did not want to say whether Lunin will play tomorrow, as seems more likely, or Kepa.
Ancelotti praised the team’s performance: “As a streak, this may be the best we have had. I see a solid, serious, motivated team, with a good atmosphere, no one complains, everyone contributes… Everything is going well at the moment despite “we had so many difficulties… It was thanks to the character of the players.”
It’s not difficult for the coach to put players in positions other than their natural positions: “Convincing them is very important, but you have to take into account whether you can do it. The player is very clear. When you talk to him you understand if he wants to or not. Almost everyone has told me “I have said that they have no problem. I don’t give them a strategy if they don’t want to, or I don’t give them a strategy that they are not happy with. Convince, yes. Force, no,” he stated.
Ancelotti praised VinÃcius’ moment: “He can be the best in the world if he achieves this continuity. He has a lot of quality and puts a lot of intensity into his dribbles and sprints… If he does it consistently during the 90 minutes it is noticeable because there are rivals who They can’t stand him in the second half.”
On this occasion Ancelotti did not ask Kroos to continue for another year: “Whatever he decides must be respected. One, in my opinion, must leave it at the top. This year it could be, or next year, I don’t know, because “His performance has always been good. He never had any ups or downs. But one must stop, as a coach too, at the peak of his career.”
