Ancelotti: “It's going to be a demanding game and we’ll have to perform at our best”

Carlo Ancelotti spoke at the press conference ahead of the clash against UD Las Palmas, which will be played at the Gran Canaria stadium (Saturday, 4.15pm CET). The coach had the following to say from the press room at Real Madrid City: “We will try to perform at our best in a game that could be difficult because Las Palmas play very good football and defend really well. It's going to be a demanding game. We’re motivated to get back to playing at our best and be more solid at the back. This week has been good for us, we've rested. The team is in good shape, we have everyone available except for the long-term injuries. We're looking forward to it.”
 
Laporta's comments about the league being adulterated
“I don't like to get into this kind of controversy. There's been a lot of talk this week and I think the same as I said before. We don't have to divert the issue, everyone knows what has happened in Spanish football over the last 20 years. That's the problem of Spanish football, not the league being adulterated, because it isn’t. Spanish football has had a problem and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the Guardia Civil are carrying out investigations and we have to give them time and patience. But this has been the problem with Spanish football in the last 20 years. We must not divert the issue because it does not make sense.”
 
Who will replace Bellingham?
“It could be Brahim of course, but we may consider Joselu. That could be another option for replacing him. We've been able to make up for the absence of important players many times and we'll do the same tomorrow.”
 
Klopp and his departure from Liverpool
“It's quite surprising but I understand it because sometimes it can happen because after a long time working with the same team and the same players, your motivation drops a little bit. I think that's what has happened to Klopp at Liverpool, where he's done a fantastic job. He deserves a lot of credit for being objective in this sense, self-critical, and leaving the club in other hands. Full respect to him because he's a great manager and he's going to continue to give a lot to football.”
 
Xavi and Barça’s difficulty in winning the league
“I don't want to explain my personal thoughts on this here.”
 
Return of Militão and Courtois
“Both have a chance of playing matches this season. Their recoveries are going very well. The medical staff don't want to force them but they're doing very well. They're training on the pitch individually. In February they will have been out for six months and this type of injury takes between six, eight and ten months and I think they'll both recover before the end of the season.”
 
VAR audios
“There's some confidential information, confidential words that the fact that they're coming out isn't so good. The words of the referees during the match seemed to me to be all correct comments, where they talk about incidents, about football and the impressions they have of it.”
 
Starting goalkeeper
“Lunin is going to play tomorrow.”
 
Goalkeeper rotation
“I never grow tired of saying it. Next Wednesday I will tell you who's going to play on Thursday. I have no problem.”
 
Set-up in midfield
“In November and December we were well-rounded in this respect. The team was solid, which it hasn't been in the last four. We've scored a lot of goals but we have conceded as well. We've lost solidity but it doesn't depend on Valverde's absence in this position because it was an emergency, as Tchouameni and Camavinga were injured. Now they're ok. We have to get back to the stability we had before, by being a bit more focused and solid at the back.”
 
Information published in France on a possible return of Benzema
“That's a lie. We've never discussed this with the club.”
 
Futre's comments on Ancelotti's press conference after the Almeria game
“I don't want to respond to Futre. I know him as a player but I've never spoken to him and I don't want to answer him.”
 
Madrid being questioned
“This week we had two days off. I enjoyed it very much. We thought that the team needed to rest more than work and we had two good training sessions to prepare for the match. We're focused and the only focus we have is to try to get the three points tomorrow, which will be very important for this league, as they will be in Thursday's game. February is going to be a very important month for the league.”
 
Return of Militão 
“After six months and with this type of injury, we'll see how he feels on the pitch. After 7-8 months we can think that he can come back.”