Ancelotti: 'The squad has quality, motivation and desire'
'We're eager to continue our two-game winning run,' said the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City the day ahead of the clash against Celta, on matchday three of LaLiga Friday, 9:30 pm CEST. The Italian coach had the following to say: “It will be a special match for Celta because of their centenary celebration. We're eager to continue our two-game winning run. The team is doing well. Celta played very well against Real Sociedad.”
“There is a good vibe in the squad because they have quality, they're motivated and enthusiastic. The squad has quality, motivation and desire. This is the feeling I have.”
120 games in his second spell as coach
“It's a success, I'm extremely happy about the 120 games as coach and we're doing well. It's been 119 games well done. For the next 120 we have to start well tomorrow.”
Will Kepa play tomorrow?
“Kepa is going to play in goal.”
Modrić
“Luka has chosen what he wants to do. It's unusual for him not to start, as he usually does. He's not happy, but he's fine physically. He can play and he will contribute. For everyone this is a peculiar situation for him not to play from the first minute, but he's going to play like he did in the past seasons.”
On who will be taking the penalties
“Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and Luka have been practising. We’ll choose the best player for each game.”
Saudi Arabia
“Football in Saudi Arabia offers much more money than in Europe. Everyone can do what they want and the international football bodies have to assess this issue and make the necessary decisions to balance the market.”
On Rubiales
“It's a very sensitive issue. As a citizen and like the rest of the people, I didn't like this behaviour at all. But not just that. This is not the behaviour of a president of a federation. I don't go into whether he should resign. There are governing bodies that will decide that. I stand by what I said before. I think they will take the most appropriate decision.”
Responsibility
“Another person's behaviour doesn't affect me on a personal level. I have a clear idea of what I have to do and how to behave. I know what social responsibility I have as Real Madrid coach. I don't allow myself to judge what others do.”
Bellingham
“I wasn't surprised by Bellingham's adaptation because he didn't exactly play in a '10' position at Dortmund. But he did show that he was a more direct player, maybe more on the ball than off the ball, but he was a direct player. He's adapted very well because he's a very intelligent player who moves very well without the ball.”
“There is a good vibe in the squad because they have quality, they're motivated and enthusiastic. The squad has quality, motivation and desire. This is the feeling I have.”
120 games in his second spell as coach
“It's a success, I'm extremely happy about the 120 games as coach and we're doing well. It's been 119 games well done. For the next 120 we have to start well tomorrow.”
Will Kepa play tomorrow?
“Kepa is going to play in goal.”
Modrić
“Luka has chosen what he wants to do. It's unusual for him not to start, as he usually does. He's not happy, but he's fine physically. He can play and he will contribute. For everyone this is a peculiar situation for him not to play from the first minute, but he's going to play like he did in the past seasons.”
On who will be taking the penalties
“Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and Luka have been practising. We’ll choose the best player for each game.”
Saudi Arabia
“Football in Saudi Arabia offers much more money than in Europe. Everyone can do what they want and the international football bodies have to assess this issue and make the necessary decisions to balance the market.”
On Rubiales
“It's a very sensitive issue. As a citizen and like the rest of the people, I didn't like this behaviour at all. But not just that. This is not the behaviour of a president of a federation. I don't go into whether he should resign. There are governing bodies that will decide that. I stand by what I said before. I think they will take the most appropriate decision.”
Responsibility
“Another person's behaviour doesn't affect me on a personal level. I have a clear idea of what I have to do and how to behave. I know what social responsibility I have as Real Madrid coach. I don't allow myself to judge what others do.”
Bellingham
“I wasn't surprised by Bellingham's adaptation because he didn't exactly play in a '10' position at Dortmund. But he did show that he was a more direct player, maybe more on the ball than off the ball, but he was a direct player. He's adapted very well because he's a very intelligent player who moves very well without the ball.”
Avoiding serious injuries
“Our responsibility is to say what we think and all the coaches think there are too many matches and too much physical demand, including the players' travel. Everybody is thinking about shortening the number of matches.”
On potential new signings
“I can rule that out 100%.”
Tchouameni
“He is the player from the first part of last year. After the World Cup he had an injury and wasn't able to get back to the level he is at now. There's nothing new in him. He's a very important pivot for our game.”
One game a week
“It's been a very important period. When you have a week you can put in intense workouts and we have done that at the beginning of every week. Aerobic work, strength and tactical work. We've done this for three weeks. It's unusual because now we won't have time to do this. The players' legs have greatly improved, we'll see in the next week.”
Adaptation by Vini Jr. and Rodrygo
“Rodrygo has no problem adapting because he was used to playing as a centre-forward. Vinicius is adapting really well too. He's had plenty of chances and he's scored a goal. I'm not forcing him to play on the inside, he has the quality and the intelligence to know where to position himself in attack. On the inside it's easier for him to have opportunities, because it means you can score with one touch. He has to improve his movement in the centre of the box. He's going to learn and he's going to be more effective.”
On unexpected departures
“I don't think so. The squad is closed and all the players we have are focused on this season. Can someone change their mind? I don't know, but I'm not worried.”
On Valverde
“His position has changed a bit. He plays a bit further back he did last year and I think that can help him more. He's understood that for him playing with one or two touches is not his strength. If he has space or time he has to drive on with the ball. He has remarkable quality, which is to run with the ball, and he has to make the most of it. Asking him to play with one or two touches doesn't make sense and I will never ask him to do that.”
“Our responsibility is to say what we think and all the coaches think there are too many matches and too much physical demand, including the players' travel. Everybody is thinking about shortening the number of matches.”
On potential new signings
“I can rule that out 100%.”
Tchouameni
“He is the player from the first part of last year. After the World Cup he had an injury and wasn't able to get back to the level he is at now. There's nothing new in him. He's a very important pivot for our game.”
One game a week
“It's been a very important period. When you have a week you can put in intense workouts and we have done that at the beginning of every week. Aerobic work, strength and tactical work. We've done this for three weeks. It's unusual because now we won't have time to do this. The players' legs have greatly improved, we'll see in the next week.”
Adaptation by Vini Jr. and Rodrygo
“Rodrygo has no problem adapting because he was used to playing as a centre-forward. Vinicius is adapting really well too. He's had plenty of chances and he's scored a goal. I'm not forcing him to play on the inside, he has the quality and the intelligence to know where to position himself in attack. On the inside it's easier for him to have opportunities, because it means you can score with one touch. He has to improve his movement in the centre of the box. He's going to learn and he's going to be more effective.”
On unexpected departures
“I don't think so. The squad is closed and all the players we have are focused on this season. Can someone change their mind? I don't know, but I'm not worried.”
On Valverde
“His position has changed a bit. He plays a bit further back he did last year and I think that can help him more. He's understood that for him playing with one or two touches is not his strength. If he has space or time he has to drive on with the ball. He has remarkable quality, which is to run with the ball, and he has to make the most of it. Asking him to play with one or two touches doesn't make sense and I will never ask him to do that.”