Ancelotti: "Our aim is to make a good start to this new part of the season"
"We will try to put in a good performance against Mallorca, showing commitment and intensity", explained the Real Madrid coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City ahead of the LaLiga matchday 19 clash between Real Madrid and Mallorca, which will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu (Wednesday, 7.15pm CET). The Italian coach said: "Our aim is to make a good start to this new part of the season. We've had some good news in training as a lot of players are coming back. Also, those who aren't ready yet are very close to being back. Vinicius, Carvajal, Arda, and soon Camavinga will be back. We'll try to put in a good performance tomorrow, showing commitment and intensity to start the year well".
"I'm very happy to have renewed, it was simple and both sides agreed on it. I'm very happy to continue at Madrid for another two years. We are not planning to sign another centre-back. We've got two important ones out, but we've got two more in Nacho and Rüdiger. And then we have others options in case of emergencies such as Camavinga and Carvajal".
Florentino Pérez
"The president hasn't changed. He has retained his motivation and love for this team. His track record is amazing and continues to be so. He has a clear vision for the future and that's why the club is in very good hands".
Renewal
"It's important that the club continues to trust in my work. The shared history isn't so important as I wasn't in a hurry. My contract was up on 30 June. The club has decided to do it now because they're happy with our work. I don't know if it's an achievement, but what is an achievement is to win games after this renewal".
Eager to stay at Real Madrid
"I don't know if it will be my last spell as a coach. I don't know what will happen once I finish here. I might still be here in 2026, depending on how successful I am. I'd like to be Madrid coach until 2026, and hopefully I can continue to be here in 2027 and 2028 because I want to stay here".
Goalkeeper
"I haven't made a decision on the goalkeeping department because the two goalkeepers give me a lot to think about. It's not right for me to name the starting goalkeeper now. They're very good and I'm going to choose the goalkeeper who I feel most confident in at any given moment".
Brazilian national team
"Everyone knows that I was in touch with the former president of the Brazilian federation, Enaldo Rodrigues. I want to thank him for his warmth and interest in me coaching the Brazil national team. I was proud, but it was all dependent on my situation with Real Madrid and that it was all clear. Enaldo is not the president right now and everything has gone the way I wanted because I'm able to stay here. Thinking about being the Brazil coach was exciting, but I don't know if they will want me in 2026. I don't know if they will be happy with this decision".
Evaluation of the first part of the season
"We must wait and see what happens this season. We've done well so far, the team has changed, it's changing, and it will change in the future. We have a lot of talent that we haven't been able to put into action yet, like Güler, who is finally getting back to his best. We'll have to wait for the second half of the season. We did well in the first half, even with a lot of problems".
Players returning to form
"We can't compare the situations with Carvajal, Vinicius and Güler because the latter has had a longer injury. I haven't made a decision yet about what I'll do tomorrow with Vinicius because I have to speak to him and the doctors. But he's shown in training that he's looking very good".
Arda Güler
"The most important thing is that he's well, he's back in training with the team and he's getting back to his best gradually. We have to be patient because he's 18 years old and has all the time he needs to play here. He's ready and I'll give him minutes tomorrow if I can".
January transfer window
"We're not going to sign anyone in the January transfer window".
Planning for next season
"Some players finish their contract here and they'll decide what they want to do. The likes of Kroos, Nacho and Modrić. The future is already in place and there's not much to do. It's too early to think about what is going to happen in the summer of 2024. The team is already heading in a good direction, with a young and very good one coming in the summer."
Mbappé
"I'm not going to discuss this subject".