Ancelotti: “We're very proud of what Benzema and Courtois have achieved”
'We'll have to be ready for the Elche game, particularly on a mental level. There are three points on the line, just like there were in El Clásico,' commented the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti addressed the press from the media room at Real Madrid City on the eve of Wednesday’s encounter against Elche at the Martínez Valero 9pm CET and previewed the game in the following terms: “In terms of our preparation for the game, particularly on a mental level, we have to work a bit harder. It's perfectly normal to be fully focused for the high-stakes games and it's tougher after a game that was so demanding on both a physical and mental level. We’re bearing all of that in mind and are aware that there are three points on the line, which was also the case when we won the three points on Sunday.”
Praise for Benzema
“We're very happy and feel as if the Ballon d'Or belongs to us in some sense. Benzema is really proud at having won this award and thanked his teammates. It's an individual award, but he's benefited from the help of a team that enabled him to go and showcase his quality. This one is now behind us and we have to look forward to the next Ballon d'Or.”
“He's a player who takes on more responsibility and feels more like a leader within this team than he did eight years ago. His game hasn't changed all that much in a technical sense and he has the same quality. What has changed is his responsibility within the team and his attitude, where he is much more of a leader.”
Ballon d'Or ceremony
We’re all very proud of everything that Benzema and Courtois have achieved and also Modric and Vini, and of all of the Real Madrid players who came close to winning it. I want to congratulate all of the award winners: Mané, Manchester City, Putellas, Gavi, Lewandowski.'
Club of the Year award
“I'm not very sure of the criteria and it doesn't relate to the team in itself. Real Madrid were the best team because we won the Champions League. I'm unaware of the criteria that the decision is based on and to talk about this would represent a lack of respect toward a club that it took an awful lot of effort for us to knock out of the Champions League, who won the Premier League and enjoyed a superb season. The most important trophy of them all was the one we lifted in May.”
Courtois’ seventh-placed finish in Ballon d’Or
“The forward who scores all the goals grabs the headlines and it's tougher for a holding midfielder or a goalkeeper to be in the limelight. I never got that attention. I'm surprised that there are some players who didn't make the 30-man shortlist, such as Kroos, Valverde, Militão, Alaba. You might say that I've got a conflict of interests and you'd be right, I do.”
Praise for Benzema
“We're very happy and feel as if the Ballon d'Or belongs to us in some sense. Benzema is really proud at having won this award and thanked his teammates. It's an individual award, but he's benefited from the help of a team that enabled him to go and showcase his quality. This one is now behind us and we have to look forward to the next Ballon d'Or.”
“He's a player who takes on more responsibility and feels more like a leader within this team than he did eight years ago. His game hasn't changed all that much in a technical sense and he has the same quality. What has changed is his responsibility within the team and his attitude, where he is much more of a leader.”
Ballon d'Or ceremony
We’re all very proud of everything that Benzema and Courtois have achieved and also Modric and Vini, and of all of the Real Madrid players who came close to winning it. I want to congratulate all of the award winners: Mané, Manchester City, Putellas, Gavi, Lewandowski.'
Club of the Year award
“I'm not very sure of the criteria and it doesn't relate to the team in itself. Real Madrid were the best team because we won the Champions League. I'm unaware of the criteria that the decision is based on and to talk about this would represent a lack of respect toward a club that it took an awful lot of effort for us to knock out of the Champions League, who won the Premier League and enjoyed a superb season. The most important trophy of them all was the one we lifted in May.”
Courtois’ seventh-placed finish in Ballon d’Or
“The forward who scores all the goals grabs the headlines and it's tougher for a holding midfielder or a goalkeeper to be in the limelight. I never got that attention. I'm surprised that there are some players who didn't make the 30-man shortlist, such as Kroos, Valverde, Militão, Alaba. You might say that I've got a conflict of interests and you'd be right, I do.”
Vini Jr.’s position in Ballon d’Or
“It's fair and will allow him to try and improve on what he did last season. Last season was virtually all new for everyone to have a player with this quality and consistency. This now gives him the opportunity to be more motivated and do better.”
Assessment of his second spell at the club
“I didn't think that we'd be in this position at this stage of the season. What we've achieved so far has been really good. It’s perfectly normal for these things to happen when you work at this club and that's why I don't find it so surprising. I’ve got got everything here to achieve success. The club has history, tradition, competition and the quality of its players. I had far more doubts at the start of last season than I do now.”
Personal relationship with players
'The personal relationships are so important and you can get 100% out of a player on a professional level, but you can get a little bit more out of them on a human level.”
Is Ancelotti becoming Cholo-esque?
“That's a compliment. I watched Atlético’s game against Athletic and it was a really entertaining match. I heard Simeone say after the game that he gets excited by games like that and I agree with him. A team that displays that level of commitment will always excite their coach.”
Iker Bravo
“He's doing well with Castilla and is a player who’s progressing quickly. We needed him in today's training session, but he won't travel with the team tomorrow. He's going to stay with Castilla.”
Mbappé
“I don't know what will happen in terms of individual players, but the future of this team is already in place. We've got young players like Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Camavinga, Valverde, Militão... who have written the future of this club. The players come and go and our squad for next season won't be the same, but these players have already shown what Real Madrid's future looks like.”
“It's fair and will allow him to try and improve on what he did last season. Last season was virtually all new for everyone to have a player with this quality and consistency. This now gives him the opportunity to be more motivated and do better.”
Assessment of his second spell at the club
“I didn't think that we'd be in this position at this stage of the season. What we've achieved so far has been really good. It’s perfectly normal for these things to happen when you work at this club and that's why I don't find it so surprising. I’ve got got everything here to achieve success. The club has history, tradition, competition and the quality of its players. I had far more doubts at the start of last season than I do now.”
Personal relationship with players
'The personal relationships are so important and you can get 100% out of a player on a professional level, but you can get a little bit more out of them on a human level.”
Is Ancelotti becoming Cholo-esque?
“That's a compliment. I watched Atlético’s game against Athletic and it was a really entertaining match. I heard Simeone say after the game that he gets excited by games like that and I agree with him. A team that displays that level of commitment will always excite their coach.”
Iker Bravo
“He's doing well with Castilla and is a player who’s progressing quickly. We needed him in today's training session, but he won't travel with the team tomorrow. He's going to stay with Castilla.”
Mbappé
“I don't know what will happen in terms of individual players, but the future of this team is already in place. We've got young players like Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Camavinga, Valverde, Militão... who have written the future of this club. The players come and go and our squad for next season won't be the same, but these players have already shown what Real Madrid's future looks like.”