Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media at the Legia Warszawa on the eve of the Champions League group stage Matchday 4 encounter between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk (9pm CET). The Italian Boss spoke about the team’s main objective and the will to make a strong performance in every stage. He also evaluated the players and revealed their fitness form. He knows very well that team rotation is very important but at the same time not easy to do, but he has had a positive approach by the players just as he expected.
More specifically, the coach previewed the match in the following terms: “The challenge for us is to make sure the players recovery properly and we then assess whether they’re tired. Tonight's training session will be important and I'll name the right team to win the game. We've got the chance to, and will be looking to put the group stage to bed. That'll be important for us.”
“Getting out of the group stage is our first objective of the season and the sooner we do that, the better. That can help to give you more energy for the league season, but you've got to realize that when it comes to the Champions League, Real Madrid can't possibly consider not putting in a strong performance. If we're lucky enough to qualify tomorrow night, we’ll then go on to put in two strong performances and will want to win both games, he added.
Plan for Vini Jr. & Benzema: "Vini is one of the players I'll have to take a look at. He's played every game and played on Saturday night too and he's had the travelling today on top of that. Benzema is doing fine and will obviously play tomorrow night, as will Kroos and Mendy. They're rested and fresh and will play."
Squad rotation: “It's very tough. The players become angry and everyone expresses that in their own way. The reaction from every member of the group has been very positive. The reaction shows that they're all focused on our work and nobody has thrown in the towel up until now. They’re very respectful when it comes to my decisions and that's the most important thing. You're entitled to be angry with the coach, but it's best not to be cross with the individual”.
Shakhtar’s situation & Ukraine war: “I spoke to Jovićević in the first leg. They are struggling to go about their work and we feel for them and have real respect for them. Having the desire to play with those challenges means a lot for them and they want to give a good account of themselves as a club and Ukrainian people who are suffering.”
Courtois's recovery: “He's doing a lot better and we spoke to him before we left Madrid. He'll start training on Thursday so that he's fit for Sunday's match.”
Lunin: “I speak to him. He’s doing well, he's young and possesses real quality. These kinds of games are useful because they allow him to gain experience and knowledge, which is what he's lacking right now. He's got the quality of a great goalkeeper. He's quite a timid boy. He's not someone who speaks all that much and it's perfectly normal for him to be affected by everything that’s going on. It's affecting everyone. all we can do is try to help him and be there to help him out if he needs anything.”
Hazard: “He might start the game or he might not. I'm not totally clear on my line-up. The players who haven’t been playing will play tomorrow night and as for the rest of them, I'll assess things with my coaching staff and the medical team.”
Barcelona vs Celta: “I didn't watch the Barcelona game. Sometimes you end up winning when you're not at 100% in your games. The motivational or mental side of things is key. When you win games after being made to suffer, which is to be expected in football, you have to show your character and competitiveness. The games are far more evenly contested nowadays. Almost all of the teams are well organised defensively and you have to work hard to score. It's difficult to make the breakthrough in the modern game.”
Announcing the line-up and the risk of giving the opposition an advantage: “I name my starting line-up two hours before kick off, just as I always do. The team talk usually begins two hours before kick-off and that's when I name my team. Nothing has changed in that respect. That's just something that I'm used to doing and I'm not bothered about not keeping the line-up a secret. There's no such thing as a secret in the modern game.
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