Carlo Ancelotti appeared in the media room at Real Madrid City on the day before his team's clash with Osasuna at El Sadar on LaLiga matchday 22 (Saturday, 9:00pm CET). The coach announced the squad available for the game and explained Real Madrid’s ways to reduce the gap and to improve the gameplay especially in the defensive department. He also discussed about the players and the positive competition that exists within the team.
REAL MADRID SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin and Luis López.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Lucas V. and Rüdiger.
Midfielders: Modrić, Camavinga, Valverde, D. Ceballos. and Mario Martín.
Forwards: Hazard, Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo and Álvaro.
He said: “We'll have to show good commitment, attitude and desire to win it. It's a crucial period of the season, the team is in good shape and will fight hard tomorrow. Karim won't be available tomorrow because he's fatigued and we want him to recover fully for Tuesday. Kroos hasn't trained and will be out. Hazard will be back, as will Courtois”.
Targets: “Our aim is to cut the gap to Barcelona. We have a hectic schedule, loaded with big games. Every game can improve or worsen the situation, that's just football. You can go from good to bad very quickly. When you're in a good dynamic, you have to do all you can to keep it going. I'm focused on preparing properly for the games, I'm the coach and I'm concentrating on the match".
Álvaro Rodriguez: "Álvaro is doing really well. He wasn't in the last squad because he was playing for his national team. He'll be in the squad tomorrow because we believe in his quality. He has so many attributes and a profile which we don't have because he's really tall, good in the air, he can contribute a lot".
Benzema: “Since the World Cup, Karim has done really well. He's scored in almost every game. He's contributing but we would rather give him the rest when he's fatigued to ensure he can stay fit throughout the season. Causing people to doubt the competition is not good. Sport must always remain clean and we all have to work hard to ensure it stays that way”.
Fitness levels: “We don't want to take any risks with players who are fatigued. The second day after a match is when that is most noticeable. A lot of our players are tired. We have to bear in mind that Benzema is returning from injury and his fatigue levels are different. If the Liverpool game was tomorrow, he wouldn't play".
Champions League game: "We know Liverpool very well. We have to focus on tomorrow's match because it's really important we cut the gap at the top and keep up our good run. I'm not thinking about Tuesday's starting XI. Tomorrow is the next match and perhaps we'll put out the same team on Tuesday".
Competition in the forward line: “I won't tell you about who is favourite for tomorrow because it depends on the game. We will put out a hugely competitive front line. Vinicius is back, he's incredibly dangerous. I have faith in whoever plays tomorrow. We have to prepare for our next game as if it were our last. That's exactly what we're doing”.
Modrić & Rodrygo: “Modrić prefers to start games and he'll be in the team from the beginning tomorrow. The same goes for Rodrygo. I'd be crazy to make Rodrygo and Vinicius compete because they have to play together. Sometimes we can play in a 4-4-2 with both of them playing up top”.
Defensive improvements: “Where there is room for improvement on a defensive level is with the 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. We've tried during matches and we have to adapt to the play more quickly. Sometimes Vinicius is unable to defend and we have to get into the line of four very quickly, which we don't always manage. We usually play a 4-3-3, but we can switch to a 4-4-2. When Vinicius breaks the press, someone has to come out from inside, Kroos, for instance. We're struggling with this switch more than usual and that's what we're working on in training".
The Best: “All three coaches enjoyed success last season and all three finalists deserve to win it. Those who don't win will have to congratulate whoever does”.
The squad arrived in Pamplona Saturday morning. They departed from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport for Pamplona, where they landed after a flight lasting just over an hour. From there, the Madrid expedition headed to the Alma Muga hotel in Beloso. Later, Valverde and Odriozola attended the event with members and Madridistas at the Alma Muga hotel in Beloso. The two Real Madrid stars signed autographs and posed for photos with the fans at the team's base ahead of the LaLiga matchday 22.
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