Ancelotti Discusses Tactics and Injury Concerns for Real Madrid’s Title-Defining Clash with Barcelona
image via - @realmadridCF/ X
Real Madrid, heading towards a Trophyless season, will march on to face FC Barcelona on Sunday. Trailing by four points to the league leaders, this El Clásico could be held as the one with La Liga at stake for Los Blancos.
Carlo Ancelotti is having a nervous time at the Spanish capital since his Copa del Rey loss in April. With speculations around his replacements already lined up, the Italian manager wouldn’t be taking anything for granted.
🚨 Ancelotti: “This is the last El Clásico of the season because Barcelona won't be at the Club World Cup”. pic.twitter.com/kcTb8HdRYh
‘Feeling Confident’ – Carlo Ancelotti Ahead of the El Clásico
Ancelotti and his side have lost their past four of their past games against FC Barcelona. With the points table pressure lined up along with the recent record, Real Madrid will be tested heavily at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Expressing how dominating Hansi Flick’s side could be, Ancelotti in his pre-match interview stated the stakes of this El Clásico. Reflecting on how FC Barcelona has performed this season, Ancelotti, in his conference, said:
“In this type of game, you have to do things well and defend well because Barcelona pin you back in your half, but when you have the ball, you have to take advantage of their weaknesses because no team is perfect. They’ve had a great season, but there’s a lot at stake, and you have to manage the small details, the tempo, defend and attack well. All the little details, as in all the Clásicos.”
“Winning a league is very difficult, not as difficult as winning the Champions League, but it needs consistency, and the fact that it can be achieved explains perfectly well what tomorrow’s match will be like. Both teams have a lot at stake. If they win tomorrow, they will have a better chance of winning it than us, but if we win, the league opens up and anything can happen in the last three games.”
Talking about the preparations for the clash against FC Barcelona, Ancelotti insisted on having to do nothing extra. Giving insights on the team’s morale ahead of the clash, the Italian continued:
“It’s not so difficult to prepare for these matches because there’s no need to prepare the players. We have to give them the clearest possible ideas of how they have to play the game. What’s going on around us hasn’t affected us this week at all. We’re doing well and feeling very confident. We have no issues.”
Rodrygo, who has been absent from the lineup and squad in recent weeks, will return. Giving updates on the Brazilian, Ancelotti in his interview continued:
“He has trained well all week and is recovering from the fever he had last week. We don’t have many options for the starting line-up because there are a lot of players out. He’s an important option for us, as is Arda.”
FC Barcelona will come in as the favourites to settle the La Liga 2024/25 season on Sunday. Coming in after the disappointing loss in the UCL, Flick and his team will look to bounce back on their home ground turf as they aim for their fifth straight El Clásico win.
Flick’s high-pressing philosophy has breathed new life into Barcelona’s midfield, with Pedri poised to control the tempo and thwart Madrid’s counter-attacks. A triumph in this El Clásico would not only strengthen Barcelona’s position at the summit of La Liga but also deliver a powerful message to their rivals.
I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!
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