Carlo Ancelotti held an insightful press conference on the eve of Real Madrid\u2019s decisive Copa del Rey quarterfinal clash against Legan\u00e9s. Amid controversies surrounding refereeing decisions and the team\u2019s growing injury list, the Italian coach addressed several pressing topics with his usual honesty and clarity. From updates on injured players to managing defensive absences and the club\u2019s recent statements on officiating, Ancelotti provided precise answers to the journalists\u2019 questions.<\/p>\n
Which kind of match are you expecting?<\/p>\n
Carlo Ancelotti: We need to prepare well and move on to the next stage of this competition. The Copa del Rey is a special tournament for us. Over the years, it has given us a lot of joy and success. Legan\u00e9s is a strong team that has already shown its quality against top clubs like Barcelona and Atl\u00e9tico. We know it will be a tough match, but we are ready for the challenge.<\/p>\n
After Real Madrid\u2019s official statement, do you still trust Spanish refereeing?<\/p>\n
Something inexplicable has happened, something that concerns the integrity of footballers and the competition as a whole. What the club is asking for is a clear and transparent explanation. I think it\u2019s good to ask these questions because nothing has been done to protect the integrity of the players and ensure fairness on the pitch. If explanations don\u2019t come, then there\u2019s a problem. And if there\u2019s a problem, someone needs to fix it.<\/p>\n
In that statement, the club mentioned \u201cdouble standards.\u201d What are your thoughts on this?<\/p>\n
I refer to what I said earlier. We are talking about the integrity of football and the need to clarify certain situations. The club is simply asking for explanations, nothing more. It\u2019s important that all teams are treated equally, and that is what we stand for.<\/p>\n
Alaba is injured, and the club hasn\u2019t signed a new defender. Why?<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, we\u2019ve lost two key defenders, Alaba and R\u00fcdiger. Alaba was ready to play tomorrow, he was feeling good, but the injury happened unexpectedly. We hadn\u2019t anticipated this situation, just like with R\u00fcdiger. These are emergency moments, and we have to adapt with the players we have. Jacobo Ram\u00f3n, for example, was out for a long time due to injury, but now he\u2019s ready to contribute. We trust him, as well as players like Tchouameni or Asensio, who can step into defensive roles if needed.<\/p>\n
What kind of explanation would reassure the club regarding refereeing?What the club is asking for is a clarification of the decisions made and a guarantee that such situations won\u2019t happen again. When there\u2019s a problem, it should be acknowledged and steps should be taken to resolve it. This is an opportunity for Spanish football to show that it can improve and ensure greater fairness.<\/p>\n
Do you consider playing Valverde as a center-back?<\/p>\n
No, Valverde can play as a full-back but not as a central defender. We have other options for that position, like Jacobo, Asensio, or Tchouameni. Each of these players has specific qualities that can help us in this situation.<\/p>\n
Why have you chosen Tchouameni as a center-back?<\/p>\n
Tchouameni is a very intelligent player tactically. Defensively, he\u2019s strong in aerial duels and positions himself well. While he isn\u2019t used to playing in this role, his experience as a defensive midfielder helps him adapt. He has performed well at times and struggled on some occasions, but I can only recall one clear mistake that led to a goal. Overall, he has shown that he can handle the role.<\/p>\n
Is Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest player of all time?<\/p>\n
Cristiano defined an era. For me, he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest. He had an enormous impact on Real Madrid and on my coaching career. He helped me stay calm on the Madrid bench with his quality and professionalism.<\/p>\n
How are Vinicius and Bellingham doing?<\/p>\n
Bellingham suffered a bruise from a knock and won\u2019t be available for tomorrow\u2019s match. Vinicius had an extra recovery day. He didn\u2019t train today, but he will be in the squad to face Legan\u00e9s.<\/p>\n
Manchester City made several signings this winter. What do you think about that?<\/p>\n
I have to focus on the game against City when the time comes, considering the players they\u2019ve signed. But I don\u2019t want to comment on that right now. They are always competitive, but we have other priorities to manage before thinking about them.<\/p>\n
You have coached in the five major leagues. How do you compare officiating across them?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a very complex question. Each league has its own characteristics. In England, referees are under less pressure, which may allow them to perform better. In Spain, there are challenges, but this is also an opportunity for improvement.<\/p>\n
Ancelotti<\/p>\n
Could anything have been done differently to avoid these injury issues?<\/p>\n
What I need to focus on is how to manage this emergency situation. We faced a similar situation last season, and we handled it well. Young players will have the chance to step up, and we trust them, especially Jacobo.<\/p>\n
Have you ever experienced unfair refereeing in your career?<\/p>\n
We are talking about a specific situation that has occurred. If no explanations come, that means there is a problem. And if there is a problem, it needs to be fixed. That\u2019s all I can say.<\/p>\n
How have you prepared for the match against Legan\u00e9s?<\/p>\n
R\u00fcdiger\u2019s absence is significant, especially in set-piece situations. Legan\u00e9s is a well-organized defensive team that has achieved good results against top sides. This morning, we focused on set-piece drills to prepare for their defensive structure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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