As another weekend rolls around, Real Madrid is set to grace the hallowed turf of the Santiago Bernabeu once more, this time welcoming their neighbors from the capital, Rayo Vallecano, for what many anticipate to be a routine La Liga fixture. However, it's worth noting the impressive form of Rayo Vallecano, who have remained undefeated in their last seven LaLiga matches, showcasing a resilience that shouldn't be underestimated.
On the eve of this matchday 12 encounter, scheduled for a 9:00 pm CET kickoff, Carlo Ancelotti took the opportunity to address the media at Real Madrid City. The experienced manager was keen to acknowledge the strong performance of Rayo Vallecano in recent weeks. Ancelotti's recognition of the opponent's "good moment" serves as a reminder that in the world of football, no match can be taken for granted, regardless of the perceived differences in team stature.
The coach explained: “We've been strong at the Bernabéu so far. The atmosphere always helps us, it's our home and we want to put in a good performance, I hope we can stay top of the table. We will rotate over the next three games but the priority is tomorrow. We'll be playing against a side in very good form, they're well organised and solid. We have three games at home and now is the time to make a statement in LaLiga and the Champions League”.
Competition in LaLiga: “It will be a hard-fought LaLiga campaign. We'll be fighting against Barcelona and Atlético until the end and we'll see how Girona go because they're playing brilliantly. Those are the teams, Real Madrid included, who will be battling out to win the competition”.
Praise for Bellingham: “He's shown no flaws whatsoever so far and he doesn't really have much to improve on. At this level, the important thing is consistency. These kinds of players and great talents like Bellingham and Vinicius make the difference through consistency. His physical profile helps him to maintain the levels he's showing. It's not just about his goals either, we're praising him for his hard work with and without the ball and his incredible physical capacities”.
Attacks on Vini Jr.: “He's fine, but sadly he's got used to these kinds of attacks. He's focused on tomorrow's game and on his work. I don't have to tell him anything in that regard”.
The plan for Arda Güler: “Arda Güler is back training with the team. He's recovered but he needs game time now. He'll be in the squad tomorrow and he'll start getting minutes. We'll put him on a special plan to improve his fitness but the most important thing is that he's working with us now and he'll be able to show his quality soon. Arda is an attacking player. He can't play as a centre forward but he can operate as a number ten or on the right wing cutting inside. He can play more in central midfield as well, it depends on the demands of the game”.
Camavinga at CDM: “Camavinga is an option. We can play with a double pivot on occasions too, but Camavinga is the most similar player we have in relation to Tchouameni's attributes”.
Goalscorers: “Rodrygo and Vinicius will score more goals over the course of the season. They will get more than Bellingham and Joselu. We have no doubts about that. But if they're not scoring, Bellingham and Joselu have done a great job so far this season. We're not rushing Rodrygo and Vini Jr”..
Ceballos and the left-back position: “Ceballos will be back in training next week. Mendy picked up a strain in the last game and he'll be back in time for the Braga match. He's our first-choice left-back, then there's Fran García and Camavinga can play in there on occasions too”.
Fran Garcia: “Fran García is doing a brilliant job. Whether or not he plays isn't just dependent on his performances. There is a lot of competition, especially now Mendy is back fit. He started the season very strongly and I really like him as a full-back. I can't fault his attitude. I don't like any malice, I love his profile, his character and his approach because they are all great attributes to have in the dressing room”.
Endrick: “We're keeping an eye on him and he's doing brilliantly at the moment. He has a great future, he's making good progress and I hope he can be ready for next year”.
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