Press conference with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side CF Pachuca.
Carlo Ancelotti is one step away from winning his 15th title as Real Madrid coach and making history as the most successful coach in the club's history.
Whether Kylian Mbappé will play or not will depend on what happens tomorrow in the Intercontinental Cup final (Wednesday, December 18, 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT), a match about which Carletto has major doubts.
“Yesterday he trained well, good sensations. He did sprints and everything went well. If he is doing well and he speaks to the doctors, he will play. If there is even a small risk, of course not,” Ancelotti said.
You won 14 titles with Real Madrid… How motivated are you for tomorrow?
We are very enthusiastic; If we are here it is because we have done very well. It's a gift for us and Pachuca, who have already worked hard for two qualifying rounds. We will try to win and take the trophy to Madrid… despite the difficulties.
Tomorrow you can surpass Miguel Muñoz (former Real Madrid coach) and become the manager with the most titles in the club's history…
Of course it is something important. Achieving this success. It's a sign that I've done well; I think I've done that, but I want to keep going. It is an honor to be compared to Miguel Muñoz and the rest of the coaches who have been fortunate enough to lead the greatest club in the world.
Can you give us an update on Kylian Mbappé's fitness?
It's simple: yesterday he trained well, he felt good. He did a few sprints and everything went well. Today is an important training session, in which we will evaluate his feelings and the risk. If he is doing well, he will play after consulting with the doctors. If there is minimal risk, of course not. But his feelings yesterday were very good. We are optimistic.
How important is this competition?
We are better than we were a month ago. And it is a unique match, a unique opportunity. We're very excited, ready to go and excited. We want to bring the Intercontinental Cup to Madrid.
Do you think you've lost any control over the players? Because some say the team is not playing well…
You ask me if I lost control? (Laughs) A difficult question. I haven't lost control, of course not. In football you go through difficult times, that has always happened. Sometimes they come in October-November and sometimes in April-May.
The most important thing is to be there, to keep going. If it happens in October or November, you can still get over it and we will. I am sure we will be very competitive in the second half of the season. I can assure you that I have not lost control.
Have you had a meeting to assess whether you should sign new players in January?
No, not yet. For now we want to get to Christmas in good shape. We will try to win this match against Sevilla and then rest because the team needs that. And we will evaluate in January.
Would you have been a better coach without so much criticism?
No, criticism is acceptable. It's part of my job. I've already said that what bothers me is personal criticism, not sports criticism. Because I don't always do things right, even though I try. We all make mistakes sometimes. And criticism sometimes wakes you up. It is an important part of my work; the coach is always criticized. There has not been a single coach in the history of football who has not been immune to criticism.
Could Mbappe play in a position that isn't his best?
Kylian is a fantastic player and I honestly don't think he has reached his best level yet. He has improved in the last few games, but he is not yet at his best. He can play in any position: forward, left… wherever you put him. With the quality he has, he can play wherever he wants.
Why was the team having such a hard time getting going?
We changed a few things compared to last season: we lost balance, we had some injuries and that robbed us of our best form. It is normal for changes to occur. You have to adapt and adapt the system, the strategy. It's nothing new in football. I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied. We have improved, we have gone through difficult moments and when this happens, the team becomes stronger.
The match will be played on Wednesday, December 18 at Lusail Stadium with kick-off at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT. Watch the Intercontinental Finale livestream on FuboTV (free trial)
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