Madrid /
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s Italian coach, already focused on the European duel with Liverpoolin which despite the advantage achieved at Anfield in the First Leg of the Round of 16 (2-5) and admitting that they are “favourites” in the tie, he asked his players to play to the fullest and without looking at the result.
“We had an experience last year against Chelsea that we had an advantage and the game cost us a lot”, he recalled at a press conference comparing the qualifiers.
“The fact is that we have an advantage, we are favourites, but also that we have to play 90 minutes with the same attitude as the first leg. We can’t hide that we have an advantage and you have to take advantage of it without thinking about managing the result and the minutes; You have to play to the fullest like at Anfield”.
After the comeback against Espanyol, the Madrid coach was left with a “good feeling” in a game in which his team closed their bad scoring moment with three goals.
“We haven’t started well, it could have been complicated by a bit of frenzy in the match but I think the goal hasn’t affected the team’s attitude. We came back in the first part and controlled in the second“.
Ancelotti also talked about the virtues he has seen in his team, especially thanks to the contribution of Rodrygo and Vinicius.
“We have had more mobility than usual in attack. We have tried to enter more from the right, because Rodrygo He has helped a lot on this flank and Vinícius has played very well, he has scored a goal and we have had more chances than in recent games”.
The goal received by Real Madrid came from a mistake Eduardo Camavinga in a demarcation, that of left back, in which he will not have much more continuity.
“It is an aspect that has to improve because he does not have much experience and is very young. He is not so used to playing as a left back, he is quite normal. There are aspects to improve but the idea is to put him inside and not as a winger”.
Ancelotti did not want to comment on the ‘Negreira Case’ after Real Madrid’s statement and the convening of a board of directors for Sunday. “I know there is a board meeting tomorrow and I limit myself to the club on a very important issue. I prefer to focus on the next game.”
Lastly, Ancelotti assessed his team’s options in the three competitions for which he is still fighting.
“All three are very difficult. The objective data is that we have a disadvantage in the Copa del Rey and LaLiga and a small advantage in the ‘Champions’, but it does not mean that it is easier because it is the most complicated competition in the world”.
