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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti gave the press conference prior to Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match against Celta Vigo with incredible tension, with the Italian’s anger over the defeat in the Super Cup final still evident. . “I have to make one thing clear. “This is a press conference and not a debate, the debate is with the coaching staff and my players,” he responded when asked if he thought that attitude problems could be behind Sunday’s defeat. “Opening a debate here does not seem like the most appropriate place.”
Ancelotti on the first game of 2025 at the Bernabéu
“It is an important opportunity after the bad game we played and that hurt us a lot. But we are not sunk. We have to react. This match is good against an opponent who plays well. I hope the team can react strongly after the game the other day.”
Ancelotti on Tchouameni
“I am still convinced that Tchouameni has done well as a central defender. That’s what the data speaks of, and taking into account that it is not its ideal position. The moment we no longer have the emergency behind us and Alaba returns, he will return to his pivotal place.”
Ancelotti on the defeat against Barcelona
“It is a step back, but we have to move forward. There is one season left in which we are well positioned in all competitions. It was a bad game, we made a lot of mistakes. We have evaluated it and found the solution. We have to move forward.”
Ancelotti on whether he needs the club’s commitment
The lack of commitment is collective, not individual. The assessment of the game was a bad game defensively on all lines. And nothing more to add.
Ancelotti on how this squad is better than last season
“Does it have youth, energy, quality, commitment? It is not always able to demonstrate it, but it is a squad of absolute value and I have complete confidence in it. They have won the Intercontinental, the European Cup, they are competing. It was a bad game… We paid the bill for all the good we have done, it was an expensive bill, but it was a game. We will fight and fight until the end, as always. Everyone can give their opinion, I still have complete confidence in all my players, especially those who are not playing the best they can at the moment.”
Ancelotti on what criticism hurts him the most
“Nothing bothers me. The team has worked well. “It doesn’t bother me because it’s not the truth.”
Ancelotti on how Mbappé has improved
“He needed time to adapt to the team and return to his best physical level. Now he is in a very good moment and the team has to take advantage of it.”
Ancelotti in the transfer window
“The idea has not changed. We spoke with the club to make the team more competitive, but talking here about what I talk about with the club doesn’t seem right to me.”
Ancelotti on whether it is difficult to be him
“No, not at all. The most beautiful place in the world is, on a professional level, where I am, on the Real Madrid bench. It’s the place where all coaches want to be one day. My position is the best in the world.”
Ancelotti on the management of the situation in the locker room
“The good thing about football is that after a bad game, after a defeat like that, there is an opportunity to do well, which is tomorrow, and it gives you the possibility to concentrate a lot on what you have to do and not on the things bad things you have done.”
Ancelotti on whether the team needs reinforcements
“I’m not going to answer you.”
Ancelotti on who will play against Celta Vigo
“Everyone has recovered well. Maybe something will change, but in general I think the idea is to form the best team possible.”
Ancelotti on who will play in goal
“Yes, Lunin will play.”
Ancelotti on whether this is a moment for the players or the coach
“The word commitment is used many times because it is a very important aspect of the game. Added to quality is what makes you successful. We have lacked commitment from all of us together, because the most important thing is to put individual commitment among all of us, that happened to us in the game against Barcelona.”
Ancelotti on Asencio as right back
“He is a central defender. It takes time to work on him as a right back, because he is not used to it. “He arrived for the first time two months ago, he has played good games, he has shown that he can play, but he has only been with us for two months.”
Ancelotti explains why he doesn’t smile
“I don’t follow the wave of criticism, that one day you are the best in the world and another the most of everything. I have the necessary balance, which experience has given me, to know who I am and not get carried away by the wave, because otherwise one day you are the best and another day you are the dumbest… I don’t think so. “I’m the best, but I don’t think I’m the dumbest either.”
