The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has assured that they have “total confidence” in the third goalkeeper, Fran González, in case the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin does not exceed his “little discomfort” before the “delicate and difficult” party “this Saturday against Valencia in the Santiago Bernabéu, and has pointed out that the decision of the Superior Sports Council (CSD) on the ‘Olmo Case” competition.
“There is no concern. Why is there no concern? Because, first, Courtois is much better, we believe it can come to Tuesday. We have doubts for tomorrow’s game with Lunin, who has had a small discomfort, he will try today in training and if he is not right, total confidence in Fran, who is a great goalkeeper. The only problem that Fran is All convinced that he will have a great future as a goalkeeper, “he told a press conference.
In addition, he said that the team is “well”, although “with some doubts about the effort of the extension” against the Royal Society in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. “The team is animated, motivated. We are aware that Valencia is doing very well. A delicate game awaits us, but we are motivated, animated, we are in the fight, aware that it is an important moment of the season,” he said.
For the duel against the ‘Che’ team, the Italian coach considers as “an option” give rest to English Jude Bellingham. “Bellingham has a physique that allows him to recover very fast. He is in a good dynamic. They are things we think. I think today’s training will give us much more details of how the players are, how they have recovered. But it may be an option to give rest to him,” he explained.
Nor did he rule out giving Endrick and Arda Güler “opportunities” on Saturday. “Yes, they could have them, as they have had them in recent games, where they have acted very well. They have shown that they can help the team at this very important moment,” he said.
In another order of things, he was “optimistic” with the possibility of signing a streak of nine consecutive victories to win LaLiga. “You have to be optimistic, you have to think that we can do it, because, as I said, the team is fighting, it is fighting. We are in all competitions, we are very close, we have the confidence, also because of the experiences we have had in the past, that we can achieve it,” he said.
Despite the defensive failures of the cupo duel, Ancelotti considers that they have “improved in this aspect at a collective level.” “Individual defense failures, I do not believe; in the party against Real Sociedad, Alaba, which in general made a very good game, had bad luck in two touches, made autogol twice. This rarely passes. Due to the attitude we had at the defensive level, we did not deserve to fit four goals; instead, because of the attitude we had at the offensive level, we deserved to score four goals,” he said.
“Due to the characteristics of the players, we have much more effectiveness above for the arrival of Mbappé, which has scored 33 goals and has been very important in this regard, and there is a little more suffering behind. This is quite normal. You can reinforce the defense more and lose a little more effectiveness in front or have this effectiveness and do a little more collective work at the defensive level,” he added.
On the ‘Olmo’ case: “I don’t think it will adulterate the competition”
Asked about the CSD decision to estimate the appeal for elevation by FC Barcelona Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, who can continue playing, Ancelotti considers that the competition not adulterated. “No, I don’t think,” he said. “That is a question not for me, but for other people. I don’t want to comment on this matter,” he said.
Therefore, he also did not want to comment on the lack of reaction of the rest of the teams after the decision for the ‘Olmo Case’ was known. “There is freedom of opinion and there is also freedom to speak if you want to speak. If nobody wants to talk, that’s fine. I have no problem in this regard,” he said.
Regarding the possible sanctions to Antonio Rüdiger for his behavior in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid, he was cautious. “We have to wait. I don’t think anything happens and Rudiger can play Tuesday’s game,” he said.
In another order of things, the Madrid coach did not refuse to speak of his appearance in the court of course fiscal fraud. “It has been a new experience, nothing more. It has happened. Now we are waiting for the judge’s judgment,” he said, before assessing his future. “It will not be I who asked to get out of this club,” he said.
Finally, he did not want to advance his intentions for the final of the Copa del Rey. “If you are in Seville, I will tell you how we are going to handle it. Now, what we think is that we are very happy to play a great final and to be very close to another goal,” he said. “Barcelona is playing very well, it is in a very good dynamic. When you are going to play a final, you have to respect all the rivals. I think there is a lot of respect for Barcelona, for its quality. I think Barcelona also has a lot of respect for Real Madrid,” he concluded.