Nacho: “The team's in good shape and we want to continue like this'
'Winning the match against Braga would be a step forward, and that's the main objective', said the captain.
Nacho spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City before the Champions League group stage match against Braga Wednesday, 9pm CET. The captain said: 'We're going into the Champions League match as excited as ever. We know what an important competition it is for Real Madrid. Achieving qualification would be a step forward, it's the main objective'.
'Arda Güler is a very young player who has incredible talent and an impressive future ahead of him. He's got the qualities to play for Madrid. He has to play and demonstrate it. I think he's over his injuries that he's had since the start of the season. The team is looking forward to seeing him on the pitch. He has amazing potential'.
Bellingham's signing
'He has the Real Madrid DNA. He's a fighter, a winner, and in every game he's all about competing and winning, which is what this badge demands. He's helping the team with goals. He's talented and it's a joy to have him here. He's probably one of the signings who's had the biggest impact in recent years'.
From a personal point of view
'I'm doing very well. I've taken a completely different approach this year. I want to enjoy every day and not look beyond that. I'm happy and even happier because I'm Real Madrid's first captain, which is an extra motivation. I'm looking forward to a very special season and I think we're in a good bit of form'.
'Arda Güler is a very young player who has incredible talent and an impressive future ahead of him. He's got the qualities to play for Madrid. He has to play and demonstrate it. I think he's over his injuries that he's had since the start of the season. The team is looking forward to seeing him on the pitch. He has amazing potential'.
Bellingham's signing
'He has the Real Madrid DNA. He's a fighter, a winner, and in every game he's all about competing and winning, which is what this badge demands. He's helping the team with goals. He's talented and it's a joy to have him here. He's probably one of the signings who's had the biggest impact in recent years'.
From a personal point of view
'I'm doing very well. I've taken a completely different approach this year. I want to enjoy every day and not look beyond that. I'm happy and even happier because I'm Real Madrid's first captain, which is an extra motivation. I'm looking forward to a very special season and I think we're in a good bit of form'.
Puyol's words about Vini Jr.
'We've spoken to Vinicius a lot since he came to Real Madrid. He's the kind of player who feels he's provoked more than anyone else because he's always going forward, he's always causing problems for his opponents and that frustrates them more than anyone else. As captain, it's true that I talk to him so he can stay calm and focus on playing. He's gradually changing but it's also inevitable because he's a player full of character. In terms of Puyol's words, if he wants to talk to Vinicius one day, that's up to him and if he says things to motivate him and help him, perfect, but he's very well looked after here and we all help him to focus on the game, and that's the most important thing'.
Comparison with Modrić
'I've always had a totally different role to Modrić. He's played every game and has been used to starting games. I take a different approach and I've managed to turn the situation around. I've played a lot of games that I didn't expect to play at the start of the season and it's gone my way. I'm happy because I'm at a good place at the moment and I'm trying to enjoy every day and every moment because I don't want what happened last year to happen to me'.
'I fight to play in all kinds of games. My goal is to play as many games as possible and even better if they're big games. At this stage of the competition I've played every Champions League game, which is a special competition for me. I'm in very good shape and trying to enjoy every game. Right now I've got a week where I have to face two games with the highest level of motivation and I'm ready for whatever comes my way'.
On the academy players
'For me as an academy graduate, I'm delighted every time youngsters come up to train with us. It's good to help them prepare for the future here or wherever, but it's true that the transition to the first team is more complicated than in other places. Situations have to arise, like that there are some injuries in the first team and the opportunity is given to you and right now there aren't any, but in Madrid the youth players that are coming up have a lot of quality and they're ready for it. I hope that in the future we'll have a lot more of them in the first team'.
The opponents and the Portuguese market
'Braga are a very dynamic team, with good attacking players and they're having a very good year in the Portuguese league. They won their last game 6-1. We have to stay focused and keep a clean sheet, and be mentally strong. The standard of this competition is getting higher and higher as time goes by and that means we have to be focused. They came out on top in the last few minutes in Braga and we have to be well prepared for the game. There's always a lot of news at Real Madrid about possible new players. I like to focus on myself and be prepared'.
Is there a difference between Vinicius in the Champions League and Vinicius in La Liga?
' Perhaps he feels that in the Champions League everything is calmer. I don't know why, the atmosphere, the stadiums, the players we play against. I couldn't say but I'd like things to be the same as in the Champions League. But both Vinicius and the team are looking after everything bit by bit and Vinicius knows it too. We're all going to fight for it'.
Ancelotti's future
'The coach is someone who was made to be at this club due to the calmness he transmits to the players, also in press conferences and he deserves a lot of credit for everything he has won throughout his sporting career, it's incredible'.
'We've spoken to Vinicius a lot since he came to Real Madrid. He's the kind of player who feels he's provoked more than anyone else because he's always going forward, he's always causing problems for his opponents and that frustrates them more than anyone else. As captain, it's true that I talk to him so he can stay calm and focus on playing. He's gradually changing but it's also inevitable because he's a player full of character. In terms of Puyol's words, if he wants to talk to Vinicius one day, that's up to him and if he says things to motivate him and help him, perfect, but he's very well looked after here and we all help him to focus on the game, and that's the most important thing'.
Comparison with Modrić
'I've always had a totally different role to Modrić. He's played every game and has been used to starting games. I take a different approach and I've managed to turn the situation around. I've played a lot of games that I didn't expect to play at the start of the season and it's gone my way. I'm happy because I'm at a good place at the moment and I'm trying to enjoy every day and every moment because I don't want what happened last year to happen to me'.
'I fight to play in all kinds of games. My goal is to play as many games as possible and even better if they're big games. At this stage of the competition I've played every Champions League game, which is a special competition for me. I'm in very good shape and trying to enjoy every game. Right now I've got a week where I have to face two games with the highest level of motivation and I'm ready for whatever comes my way'.
On the academy players
'For me as an academy graduate, I'm delighted every time youngsters come up to train with us. It's good to help them prepare for the future here or wherever, but it's true that the transition to the first team is more complicated than in other places. Situations have to arise, like that there are some injuries in the first team and the opportunity is given to you and right now there aren't any, but in Madrid the youth players that are coming up have a lot of quality and they're ready for it. I hope that in the future we'll have a lot more of them in the first team'.
The opponents and the Portuguese market
'Braga are a very dynamic team, with good attacking players and they're having a very good year in the Portuguese league. They won their last game 6-1. We have to stay focused and keep a clean sheet, and be mentally strong. The standard of this competition is getting higher and higher as time goes by and that means we have to be focused. They came out on top in the last few minutes in Braga and we have to be well prepared for the game. There's always a lot of news at Real Madrid about possible new players. I like to focus on myself and be prepared'.
Is there a difference between Vinicius in the Champions League and Vinicius in La Liga?
' Perhaps he feels that in the Champions League everything is calmer. I don't know why, the atmosphere, the stadiums, the players we play against. I couldn't say but I'd like things to be the same as in the Champions League. But both Vinicius and the team are looking after everything bit by bit and Vinicius knows it too. We're all going to fight for it'.
Ancelotti's future
'The coach is someone who was made to be at this club due to the calmness he transmits to the players, also in press conferences and he deserves a lot of credit for everything he has won throughout his sporting career, it's incredible'.