Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid coach, appeared at a press conference in the run-up to the match that will take on the Whites against Liverpool this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 match.
The Italian began by making it clear that Madrid in this game “will not make calculations, we will go out to play the best we can, we will plan a game like in the first leg. You have to try to enter from the first minute with maximum intensity and go out to win it. We have reviewed the good and the bad of the first leg and we are going to plan an open match, we want to attack and play our best offensive game. It will be an open match because they come to change the dynamics of the tie. And we think more about attacking than defending”. Carletto revealed that “on a mental level it is a more difficult game for us than for Liverpool, because they come at the top for all”.
The Italian referred to the match against Chelsea, the Londoners turned the tie around and then Madrid had to row against the current at the Bernabéu: “The memory of Chelsea last year is going to help us prepare for this game, because they already brought us back and that taught us that you can’t make calculations and we will propose an open party”.
Message to Hazard
Regarding Hazard’s statements, in which he said that he did not speak with the Belgian, the coach declared: “The relationship is not cold. Hazard has been honest, we don’t talk much, it’s true. It’s not the most important thing, the most important thing is that even though he’s not playing much, he respects me and I respect him a lot. Hazard does not play because there is a lot of competition and Vinicius plays in his place, who is contributing a lot. For next year I have the players that the club gives me”. Precisely about Vinicius, he warned that “I am happy with Vinicius’ progress and I don’t pay much attention to Vini’s attitude towards the referees. He must be focused on what happens on the field ”. For Carletto Vinicius “he is on the right track to write the history of Real Madrid in the coming years as Modric, Kroos, Karim or Casemiro have written it, especially in the Champions League”.
“For tomorrow’s match, experience and energy are very important”, He warned not giving clues as to whether he will bet on Modric and Kroos or Tchouaméni and Camavinga. And then he praised the Frenchman: “Camavinga is doing very well. And that makes you forget the mistakes he makes, where he should improve. Against Espanyol he made an obvious mistake in a position that is not his. His progression is normal for a youngster with extraordinary quality. Camavinga is untouchable today and will be in the future”. AND Lastly, he confirmed that “Benzema will be in the eleven, because he is recovered and with enthusiasm”, and the coach believes that “his cross-statements with Deschamps will not affect him on the pitch”.
Rudiger: “We can’t fall asleep like at Anfield”
Antonio Rudiger appeared before the coach. The Real Madrid defender recalled that “last year it was very difficult for me to play at the Bernabéu because I suffered Real Madrid’s comeback with Chelsea. The atmosphere was spectacular and now I am lucky to enjoy it. When you play against Real Madrid you feel that the Bernabéu is different. It’s an honor to be a part of this and to grow and learn from other players. with experience like Benzema, Modric or Kroos”. For the German, “it’s not easy to play for Madrid. With all the history there is a lot of pressure, but I think that helps me grow and learn from that.”
Rudiger spoke about Vinicius and everything he is suffering: “He has to focus on his way of playing because when he does he is one of the best in the world, but it is difficult when they kick you so much and provoke you so much. He is young and must learn to manage that. LThe referees also have to do a better job and treat him the same as the rest”.
For the madridistaWe must come out better than at Anfield and we can’t fall asleep in the first fifteen minutes, because we already saw what happened there at the beginning. You have to find the right rhythm and find the balance between attack and defense”. For Rudiger, “Liverpool have a lot of potential in attack and we shouldn’t let them display it like they did when they thrashed United.”