Ancelotti: "The team is very strong mentally."

Carlo Ancelotti appeared in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu following LaLiga matchday 30 win over Celta: "I was very pleased with the team's attitude. We controlled the game well. The team look good out there and we were able to rest the players with the most fatigue. I made the changes to slow the game down a bit because the team was doing well and all the players are feeling good. Asensio and Camavinga partcicularly stood out."

"We have to manage the next games adequately and I have every confidence in the squad. We can handle the rotations very well because the attitude of the team is positive and that's the most important thing for these games and even more so when you get home at six o'clock on a Wednesday morning and play on Saturday. The team is very strong mentally."

The team's defensive solidity
"I'm very pleased that we haven't conceded a goal in the last four games. It's a biproduct of collective health and commitment. When there is good defensive commitment and you have such quality up front, you're always going to score goals."

Excellent physical condition
"I can see that we have young players with extraordinary energy. As modern footballers generally do. Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde, Vini Jr. and Rodrygo have the energy of a modern player."

Praise for Camavinga
“He's a player with extraordinary quality in all aspects: physical, technical and tactically, where he's improving. He can play in any position on the pitch. He could play as a central midfielder and in the number 10 role. He's a special player with great attributes”.

On the state of the pitch
“The construction work affects the turf and that's why it has been changed periodically and will be replaced regularly. This isn't anything new or surprising. Work is being done on it and before the Manchester City game it will be replaced. Obviously, it’s being damaged quite quickly due to the works.”

First leg of the Champions League semi-finals
“It's going to be a fantastic match between the best teams in Europe. It'll be good for football and it won't be a battle between players but between two teams fighting to reach the final.”

Benzema’s fight for the Pichichi award
“I don’t know what Karim thinks. I guess he's thinking about winning, not about the pichichi. I'm not interested in that. I just want us to win games. He's doing well and when he does well, he's an important player.”

Nacho
“He’s an out and out centre-back. He’s a pessimistic defender and can also do a fine job as full-back on either side.”