Ancelotti: “We're heading into the break in a good position and we want to finish strongly"

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media in the  press room at Real Madrid City to assess the LaLiga leaders' trip to Osasuna on matchday 29 (Saturday, 4:15pm CET): "It's a hugely important game that will demand the best of us, especially going into the international break. We want to finish this part of the season strongly. We've done pretty well so far and we're heading into the break in a good position."

“I'm a pretty optimistic guy and we're in better shape than ever. We have a lead in LaLiga and we're in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Militão and Courtois on the way back. We're in the best shape possible. That doesn't mean we can't slip up tomorrow, which we may. We have to be excited about the upcoming games. Right now, we should be happy, satisfied and hungry going into our next matches."

Racist abuse aimed at Vini Jr.
“The problem exists, I won't change my opinion on that. Valencia acted very well and now those who must act are the ones who have the opportunity to do so. When we talk about zero-tolerance, that applies to everyone. To us and everyone else. We have to take action to avoid these problems and horrible things affecting our society. The perpetrators shouldn't be in the street, they should be elsewhere."

Champions League draw
"City are opposition that everyone has pinned as favourites, they won it last year. It's a tough tie but we are confident we can do a good job. Playing the return leg in Manchester doesn't bother us at all. Quarter-finals have always been difficult, all throughout the history of the Champions League. For us and for them as well. Your idea when you start out your Champions League campaign is to win it, and if you want to do that you have to beat the best. They may well be the best team in Europe right now. Our confidence is sky high. If you want to win the Champions League, you're going to have to beat City."

Beating the best
“It's always been tough from the quarter-finals onwards throughout Champions League history. It's difficult for us and for them as well. My sense ever since I arrived at Real Madrid is that we always want to win the competition whenever we start out. To do that, we have to beat the best. Manchester City may well be the best team in Europe right now. That said, our confidence is sky high and if we want to win the Champions League we'll have to beat City."

Courtois & Militão
"They've started training with the group again. We'll take advantage of the break to give them some minutes in a couple of friendlies with the academy and I think they could be back in contention. Our plan is to have them ready for the game against Bilbao on the 31st, without taking any risks. I think they'll be there because they're in good shape."

Optimism ahead of the quarter-finals
“Optimism is the overriding feeling among all of us, we're not worried. It's a big quarter-final tie between two great teams. I don't know what Manchester City are thinking and if they feel the same as us. One year we came out on top and the other it was them, so it's bound to be a very even tie."

Is it a case of revenge against Manchester City?
“It's a quarter-final tie that will help us make the semi-finals. We want to beat opposition who are playing in the same competition as us. There's no sense of revenge on our part. Each person has their own thought process. It's a tight tie and there will be no favourites. I'm not going to worry too much about it. They deserved to go through last year, just as we did the previous year."

Second leg against City last season
“It wasn't a good performance by us in the second leg but we have time to think about that. Now we're focusing on tomorrow's LaLiga game and the others coming up."

Brahim
“He's an important player for us and he could be so for any team in the world. He's chosen where he feels wanted and it's a good choice because Morocco are a great team with a good coach who I know well. They enjoyed a fantastic World Cup and now Brahim can contribute even more."

Racism
“The racism problem exists. Valencia behaved brilliantly following the episode. Now those who must act are the ones who have the opportunity to do so. When we talk about zero-tolerance, that applies to everyone. The criminals should not be in the street, they should be elsewhere."