Ancelotti: “The team’s doing well, motivated and one step away from the trophy”

Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in de Riyadh, where Real Madrid will take on Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup (Sunday, 8pm CET). The coach had the following to say: “We're doing well. We're relaxed. The team and the players have recovered or will have recovered for tomorrow's game.”

“The team’s doing well, feeling motivated. We’re one step away from the first trophy of the season. We're going to try to do what we have to do, which is to try to win the final. It's always exciting to prepare for this type of match. Everyone can see that and it's going to be a great spectacle.”

Carvajal
“He's doing well. He rested yesterday because obviously the veterans have more trouble recovering than the youngsters do. He'll be fine. I've decided on the team that will play but I don't want to give away any clues.”

Xavi
“He's doing an excellent job at Barcelona. He doesn't have as much experience as I have, but when you start a job you don't have that experience. It helps that he was one of the best midfielders in the world. It's a different job but the idea he has of football is going to help him a lot and he's doing very well.”

On Kroos
“He hasn't been affected by the whistling, nor will he be affected by it. He has so much knowledge of this world that nothing can affect him. I haven't spoken to him about it. He's motivated and ready to play.”

Nacho
“He's one of the players who set an example for newcomers in terms of seriousness, professionalism, desire and motivation. All the players who have passed through the club, such as Modric, Kroos, Carvajal, Ramos and Nacho are still role models for those who are new to the team.”

Importance of changes
“You prepare for matches with all 11 players. On a personal level, before a match I never think about predetermined changes. Any detail can change in every match, the dynamic of the game, and so on. It's very difficult to think about a change before the match. We've done this in the case of Vini Jr. because he was coming back off an injury in the game against Mallorca. For tomorrow's game I don't think in advance that I'm going to make certain changes. During the match, because of fatigue, a change of strategy or because a player isn't doing well, then I can think about making changes. Fortunately, I'm convinced that those who are on the bench are ready. Sometimes on the bench, for one reason or another, a player might not be motivated to come on. This doesn't happen here, that's the good thing.”
 
On Xavi’s comments about winning by playing well
“If we play better than Barcelona we'll win in most cases, but I'd also be happy to win if we don't deserve it so much.”
 
On goalkeeper selection
“You seem to be very concerned about what I'm going to do with the goalkeeper and I appreciate that. We signed Kepa after the injury to Courtois. He was the first choice and then he had an injury. The substitute at the time, Lunin, has deserved the competition, not because of Kepa's shortcomings but because Lunin has performed very well. At the moment, I feel that you can't choose a number one and a substitute. What's important is that they both understand that and I think they have grasped that.”
 
The atmosphere in Riyadh
“The atmosphere is good. It's a country where people are very passionate about football. We have a lot of Real Madrid fans here.”
 
On Xavi’s comments on Barcelona DNA
“I'm surprised that Xavi said he doesn't like winning. Obviously, he likes winning as much as I do. He knows as well as I do that it'll be a very even match, as it always has been and always will be a clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
 
LaLiga game at Montjuic
“The start of the game there wasn't good. The strategy in the first half wasn't right, especially defensively, and we're taking that into account for tomorrow's game, as well as the opposition's line-up, which might also change our approach to the match.”
 
The final
“It's always a thrill to prepare for these kinds of matches. These are matches that everyone watches. It's going to be a great spectacle. Obviously, there is concern about many things. On an emotional level it's hard and on a physical level because you have to try to do things as well as possible.”
 
The favourites and importance of this trophy
“This competition ends tomorrow. The rest is another story. It's an important trophy for the club's image. The Clásico makes all things equal. It's going to be exactly the same. Madrid may have shown that in the last few games they've been better, but it all evens out tomorrow. It'll be the small details that decide this final.”
 
Extra motivation for revenge?
“Real Madrid don't go out for revenge, they go out to the limit because that's the requirement of this shirt and this club. We don't have any revenge to settle. They're a team we respect a lot, they're very strong and they've beaten us. We always have the same hunger in every game.”
 
On surpassing Zidane tomorrow. What has he learned from him?
“He was the best player I've ever seen in training. What he was able to do in training was unbelievable. He helped me a lot as an assistant because he knew the club very well and I knew him very well. In the first year, he helped me with the French players, to adapt to Spanish football and Spanish culture. He has been a great help.”
 
Equalling Zidane’s trophy haul
“It doesn't give me any extra motivation. Of course, I'm very satisfied about it and very pleased, but the trophies stay on the shelf. You look at them from time to time and they remind you that you won that day. But what's important is the day after, not the day you have won it. My thought is always to look forward no matter what happens because tomorrow could bring a title or a defeat but on Thursday we have another game.”
 
Praise for Mendy
“When he's fit he's simply the best left-back in the world defensively. In attack, he has improved because the other day he even managed to score a goal.”