Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he was involved in the decision about the next penalty contractor of the club, if someone would come across Arsenal. Los Blancos missed five penalties this season, the last of Vinicius Junior cost them points against Valencia. Prior to their first stage of the Champions League quarter final at the Emirates, Ancelotti made it clear that he had a lot of respect for their opponents.
Although one of the most important topics of his press conference was his future at Real Madrid, there was little suggestion that the spirit of Ancelotti was elsewhere.
“The only thing I think about is it well prepared for the game. And we think we have done that. We are opposed to an opponent who does many things well, who is well completed: high urgent, low blocking, transitions … So the only thing we are thinking is to manage the game well, prepare it for a clear approach, with a clear tomorrow.”
The collision sees former Real Madrid Wonderkid Martin Odegaard confronted with his former side, and Ancelotti was asked why it didn't work for the Norwegian.
“He arrived very young … and the talent he has now is the same as when he was 16. In that respect nothing has changed. He just had the character and courage to leave, gain experience and to come back as one of the best in Europe,” he noticed, and explained that there was little room for him at the time because of a line-up-lined line-up.
After Lucas Vazquez again looked vulnerable during the weekend, it seems likely that Fede Valverde returns to right back, a role that he has recently repressed on various occasions.
“It's a doubt because he is doing a lot of things: full-back, midfielder … we have to think about where he will contribute the most to the team.”
“We have thought about it and we will try to tackle it tomorrow,” he noticed who will take fines, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Luka Modric all this season with Spot-Kicks.
Earlier on Monday, Arsenal -opposed to Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Ancelotti, and the Italian gave the favor back.
“Yes, fantastic. They are in the Champions League, in the quarterfinals, and compared to Arsenal in 2020, they are much stronger. And they will continue to improve in the future.”
“I congratulate Arteta, because he does fantastic work. And I thank him for what he said about me. He arrived for Everton in 2020, and in five years he brought this team to the top of Europe. And above all he built a complete team. And there are not many complete teams in Europe.
A lot has been made of the threat that the Gunners also bear this season from set pieces, and Los Blancos allowed Mouctar Diakhaby a free run to open the score this weekend.
“It is true that Arsenal is very dangerous in set pieces, so we will try to defend as well as possible. But we can also cause damage due to set pieces. That is a very important aspect.”
Los Blancos has struggled defensively lately and has given eight goals in the three games since the international break of March and looks less than convincing. However, few would project their form of competition, however, would necessarily switch to the Champions League, given their history in the competition. Ancelotti also misses a lot of his backline in Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, but will have star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.