Ancelotti: 'We'll have to be at our best to beat Rayo'
'It's a tough fixture but the team is ready', commented the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media in the press room at Real Madrid City on the day prior to the team's LaLiga matchday thirteen encounter 9:00pm CET. The coach discussed the game at Vallecas: “Rayo play some brilliant football, they're strong at home and they're very intense and well organised. It's a tough fixture but the team is ready. We'll only win it if we're at our best'.
“Asensio can play in two different positions. When he plays inside he has more opportunity to display his qualities, his shooting, the killer pass and his assist-making. He can do that when playing off the front too, he has less work to do than when he plays out wide. He's linking up really well with Valverde. They haven't played together too much but whenever they have, they've done a great job. Sometimes Asensio comes inside, sometimes it's Valverde. They switch positions and that could be fantastic for the future'.
Benzema
“Karim won't play because he's not feeling right. It looked as though he was okay but he's struggling a bit and he won't be available tomorrow. Against Cádiz I don't think Rüdiger will be back, but Karim should be'.
“Karim's lack of game time has meant we have got to see other players with real quality, like Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius. We've coped well with Karim being out thanks to the quality of the other lads. When we come back after the World Cup, we'll need Karim for the second part of the season'.
Rodrygo's potential
“Rodrygo has so much potential, either as a centre forward or a second striker. The wide positions aren't as good for him because his strengths are his movement, dribbling in tight spaces. I see him more as a centre forward than a wide man'.
Comparisons to Ronaldo Nazario
“Ronaldo wasn't as fortunate as Rodrygo. Back then Real Madrid weren't as strong as they are now in the Champions League. Rodrygo can make the most of that. If he reaches Ronaldo's levels on an individual basis, we'll be building a statue to him'.
“Asensio can play in two different positions. When he plays inside he has more opportunity to display his qualities, his shooting, the killer pass and his assist-making. He can do that when playing off the front too, he has less work to do than when he plays out wide. He's linking up really well with Valverde. They haven't played together too much but whenever they have, they've done a great job. Sometimes Asensio comes inside, sometimes it's Valverde. They switch positions and that could be fantastic for the future'.
Benzema
“Karim won't play because he's not feeling right. It looked as though he was okay but he's struggling a bit and he won't be available tomorrow. Against Cádiz I don't think Rüdiger will be back, but Karim should be'.
“Karim's lack of game time has meant we have got to see other players with real quality, like Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius. We've coped well with Karim being out thanks to the quality of the other lads. When we come back after the World Cup, we'll need Karim for the second part of the season'.
Rodrygo's potential
“Rodrygo has so much potential, either as a centre forward or a second striker. The wide positions aren't as good for him because his strengths are his movement, dribbling in tight spaces. I see him more as a centre forward than a wide man'.
Comparisons to Ronaldo Nazario
“Ronaldo wasn't as fortunate as Rodrygo. Back then Real Madrid weren't as strong as they are now in the Champions League. Rodrygo can make the most of that. If he reaches Ronaldo's levels on an individual basis, we'll be building a statue to him'.
Hazard
“Hazard has a lot of players in front of him. He hasn't had the minutes he deserves because competition is essential at a big club to keep motivation high. That means there may be some guys who get less playing time than they should and that's what's happening with Hazard'.
Transfer window
“The market is closed, nobody will be leaving or coming in. That said, if someone asks to leave, we'll have to listen'.
Academy
“The young guys in the academy are progressing well. They're doing great things. Iker Bravo and Álvaro have potential and we're keeping a close eye on them. When the time comes, they'll be useful to the first team'.
Piqué's retirement
“Piqué has been one of the greatest centre backs of this era in football. He's very clever on the pitch, so organised. He decided it's time to call it a day. It's important to be able to make that decision and not told to do so by someone else. I wish him all the best for the future”.
Round of 16 draw
“The opposition is always tough in the Champions League. Last year we got PSG and the same thing could happen again. Or we could get Liverpool, Milan or Inter. There are so many strong teams. Our concern is tomorrow's game. I hope the Round of 16 draw goes well this time'.
“Hazard has a lot of players in front of him. He hasn't had the minutes he deserves because competition is essential at a big club to keep motivation high. That means there may be some guys who get less playing time than they should and that's what's happening with Hazard'.
Transfer window
“The market is closed, nobody will be leaving or coming in. That said, if someone asks to leave, we'll have to listen'.
Academy
“The young guys in the academy are progressing well. They're doing great things. Iker Bravo and Álvaro have potential and we're keeping a close eye on them. When the time comes, they'll be useful to the first team'.
Piqué's retirement
“Piqué has been one of the greatest centre backs of this era in football. He's very clever on the pitch, so organised. He decided it's time to call it a day. It's important to be able to make that decision and not told to do so by someone else. I wish him all the best for the future”.
Round of 16 draw
“The opposition is always tough in the Champions League. Last year we got PSG and the same thing could happen again. Or we could get Liverpool, Milan or Inter. There are so many strong teams. Our concern is tomorrow's game. I hope the Round of 16 draw goes well this time'.