Carlo Ancelotti appeared at a press conference in Valdebebas happy about the Copa del Rey and calm and excited about tomorrow’s match against Manchester City at the Bernabéu, in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. Although critics give Guardiola’s team as favourites, the Italian coach seemed quite confident, especially since he believes that his team has been able to recover well after the final on Saturday in Seville, which was in principle what he liked the most. worried. “The physical aspect is not going to be the most important thing tomorrow because we have had time to recover. The team that is strongest in its virtues will win. Mine and Valverde’s fatigue is totally different. What counts is motivation and the We are excited. Also the fact of winning the Copa del Rey, which is one more motivation. We are very excited. The people of Madrid are always excited about this competition”, he stated.
Ancelotti had high praise for the rival: “This season’s City is a more complete team than last year. Gabriel Jesus was very dangerous, but different from Haaland. Now they may take more advantage of the long ball, the second options. But the style is the same.”
Stopping the Norwegian striker is the great concern of the whites, but not the only one. With everything Ancelotti is optimistic and made it clear: “Haaland is very dangerous, we are seeing it. He is a danger, but not only him. It is a complete team that plays football very well. We work to stop a team that seems unstoppable, but we will have options. We arrived well. At the same level as last season”.
The coach only gave a hint about the eleven. Modric will play, substitute against Osasuna in the Cup final: “Modric and others will play. I already know who is going to play.” He did not give many details about the rest of the lineup, although he did give some thoughts: “Camavinga plays as a full-back without the ball. With the ball, he changes and plays inside. Sometimes, between the lines. He is not a full-back who pushes on the outside. On the outside we have VinÃcius, who is quite dangerous. Camavinga is only on the wing when we don’t have the ball”.
In any case, Ancelotti does not see tomorrow’s game as a duel between Courtois and Haaland: “We are not planning a game to stop a player. We are planning a game to stop a team, especially with the ball. This has a very important relevance player, but just thinking about him would mean forgetting about others”, he insisted.
Asked if tomorrow is one more game to defend than to attack, Ancelotti said: “If you defend well, the worst thing is a draw. This does not mean that we are not going to attack. Let’s not forget that last year we conceded five against City and we scored six in two games. I would sign him the same this year.”
Ancelotti ended with a wish: “The plan for tomorrow is to play a complete game and make the best of what we have on a physical, technical and motivational level. The decisive game will be the second leg. We want to take advantage tomorrow.”
And he added: “The advantage is having a positive result. A small advantage also means feeling good in the match. Not suffering. It’s not just the result. If you manage to avoid problems it can also be a small advantage. We’ll try to do well tomorrow. It demands a lot everyone. When you get to a semifinal, it’s normal.”
Before Ancelotti spoke Toni Kroos. The German was also optimistic: “We’re fine. I’m never going to look for excuses. It may be that some days you feel better and others worse. But we won’t lack strength. Tomorrow we won’t be tired. It’s a Champions League semifinal. Having two games like this in three days it is not ideal. We have not had help from outside, but you have to play the games as they are. There are no excuses”.
The midfielder said that the negotiations on his renewal are going well and he spoke about VinÃcius and all the controversy that his conduct entails: “It is important to know that he is still very young. They are situations that he has not experienced a thousand times in his life. And he is the player that makes the difference this season. It’s not normal to be so good all season, never be injured. If we ask the defenders, it seems to me that it is very difficult to play against him. He always looks for one on one. He has led us to this moment Other than that, he is young and he has to learn. Sometimes they provoke him and the decisions of the referees don’t help, but he has to learn that he will live with this for the next 15 years. He has to be calm so as not to get out of his game. He deserves a little more protection from the referees. Many times there is a climate that doesn’t help anyone. Players like him are the ones we want to see on the field and we have to protect them”, he added.