Ancelotti: 'We're going to go out there and give our absolute all to win another title.'

Carlo Ancelotti appeared in the press room at La Cartuja stadium the day before the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna. The Real Madrid coach said: 'A final is always exciting. I always think before a final that, personally, it could be my last. It's what I thought in the first one in 2003 but it wasn't, so I'm thinking the same today. I've told the players to enjoy this moment because these are special matches and we're preparing for them with all the enthusiasm and excitement in the world. We've got here on the back of great performances, winning very complicated matches starting with Cacereño, Villarreal, Atleti and winning 4-0 at the Camp Nou... We've got this far on our own merit and we're going to enjoy the run-up and do our best to win.'
 
'Tomorrow we're going to take to the field out without thinking about the day after. We're going to go out there and give our absolute all to win another title, another competition. The players think the same and are very motivated. These are very demanding matches, but with this squad it's very easy.'
 
Modrić's condition
'It's a doubt we have. Yesterday he trained very well, without any problems. He'll train again today and we'll speak to him and decide whether to put him in from the start. He felt very good yesterday and we'll talk about it again after training. If he doesn't feel comfortable we won't take any risks. If he feels comfortable and is well, he'll play.'
 
Protective red cards
'It's an important issue in this competition, there have been too many red cards. It's true that the player's health is protected, but not all of them are for prevention, many of them have been wrongly awarded. We aren't thinking about what will happen out there tomorrow. It'll be a decent and competitive match against a very strong team that deserves to be in the final just like us. Let everyone do their own thing. For our part, we have to play a fair play game and avoid protesting. For our opponents and the referees the same, we want to see a good game from all involved.'
 
Match analysis
'I make an analysis of every game and I usually share it with the players. Sometimes you can't agree, but it's clear that in the analyses we've made of the last few games we've all been on the same page, including the defenders. This match will be different as it's not your run-of-the-mill game.'
 
Physical and mental management
'The mental aspect is very important. The way football is at the moment, three days' rest is enough without taking into account the trip, that's why we're staying here tomorrow, to try to get the right amount of sleep to recover. These are games where there is no need to push the players to stay focused. They have been thinking about it for a long time and they are motivated.'
 
Repeating the starting line-up in three days
'We can do it taking into account the importance of tomorrow's game. We will look at it again on Sunday and Monday.'

'Choosing the right players for a final is always tricky. We haven't got here because of 11 players, but because of the commitment of many. Against Villarreal, two players who didn't play from the start, Asensio and Ceballos, gave the team the push to get through the tie. To only field eleven means taking away merit from some of the players who have been very important in this competition.'
 
What he expects from the final
'It's going to be a competitive game, against a strong opponent who are very well organised. It's a very important game for them and it's going to be difficult. We have to be ready and handle the difficult moments of the game corrctly.'
 
Alaba's return
'It's an issue we have evaluated this week. He is doing very well because he's trained hard and the indications have been positive. We are have serious doubts about risking him tomorrow, because in football we can't be 100 per cent sure that there won't be any problems. In terms of his muscular progression, he is over the injury and he could start the game.'
 
Is your future at stake?
'The Copa del Rey and a Champions league semi-final are on the line, but not my life. The Copa del Rey is a very important competition, which it might not seem to be at first. It's another title and then there's another semi-final to prepare for and it would be better to prepare for it with a Copa del Rey already under our belts. Whatever happens tomorrow, we're going to prepare for the tie just the same. After that, my future is simple; I have a contract until 2024, not tomorrow.
 
'Talking about this today is not the right thing to do. Myself, the president, José Ángel, the fans and the players all share a tremendous warmth and that's enough. I'm going to play a final and a semi-final and I would like to win both.'
 
Celebration in case of victory
'When you win you have to celebrate. There are ways and then there are ways. Usually we celebrate afterwards and we would like to celebrate with all the fans. Napoli are celebrating because they have won the league after 33 years, it's spectacular. I hope the same thing happens to us, to celebrate winning a title.'
 
Would it be too little if you don't win the Champions League?
'We are focused on tomorrow's game. It would cap a very nice circle of winning everything it was possible to win over two seasons. Luck has given us the chance to take advantage of this moment and we would love to close that circle.'