Matchday 10
The Real Madrid coach assures that he has a strong team and confirms the recovery of Carvajal and Hazard
«It is a special match for everyone. We prepare it for what it is. Those were the first words of Carlo Ancelotti this Saturday at the press conference prior to his team’s clash against Barcelona on Sunday at the Camp Nou. The Italian coach already knows from his first stage at Real Madrid what this type of match against the eternal rival means and assured, despite this, that it is “an important game, but not decisive.”
Ancelotti returns to the classic and does so with a pending account. The Italian coach, who was already at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015, has never managed to win at the Blaugrana fiefdom and hopes to break that bad streak this Sunday. «I have never won at the Camp Nou, so now is the time. The team is ready ”, he assured.
The Real Madrid coach wanted to remove the favorite poster that has been hung on Real Madrid after the resounding victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine and did not hesitate to praise his rival. «I do not know who arrives better. There are no favorites. Barcelona have played well in the last few games. There are many factors that influence these types of encounters, “he said.
Ancelotti also relativized the stage fright that is felt in these types of matches and assured that it does not necessarily have to be something that plays against the footballers. «It is good to be afraid, because if not, you can go to play thinking that it is a cat and you face a lion. Fear is a constant thing. It’s a good feeling, I’m not talking about being terrified. There are worse things in life than losing a game, “he said.
Real Madrid will arrive at the Camp Nou with morale through the roof after the resounding Champions League victory against Shakhtar but that clash will not influence Ancelotti’s approach. “We are focused on preparing a good strategy. Kiev’s plan was very clear, but each game is different. I want to have a team capable of doing many things. If you have a very clear identity, the opposite can cover you. Why are we not going to use the counter? It is the easiest way to mark ”, he assured.
Ancelotti does not believe that the classic between Real Madrid and Barça has lost its appeal in recent years due to the departure of great figures such as Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. «My feelings are the same. It is a special match. Now there are other players and for me the young people of Barcelona are exceptional. The classic will exist without Messi, Cristiano, Sergio Ramos and will exist without those who are now, “he said.
Regarding the line-up that will be in the running at the Camp Nou, the Italian coach did not want to give too many clues. “Eleven is clear, but it is not correct to talk about it. We got Hazard and Carvajal back. They are all involved, ”he assured, while not ruling out the presence in the starting team of Fede Valverde, a footballer who gave Zinedine Zidane a very good result last season in the Blaugrana fiefdom. «In a 4-3-3 he plays in the middle. If I ask him to play Rodrygo, I’m going to be wrong; and vice versa, too. Of course I look at what happened last season. It’s information, “he concluded.
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