Defending champions Real Madrid have had a nervy start to the La Liga campaign, with the Merengues winning only one out of their opening three games.
Despite difficulties forming a winning streak, they have been presented with an ideal opportunity to make amends against a formidable foe in Real Betis.
Ahead of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, coach Carlo Ancelotti has spoken to the media and expressed his optimism.
The fans will play a big role
Both games that Real Madrid drew this season came on the road. Returning to home soil is thus seen as a crucial opportunity to regain momentum.
Ancelotti echoed the sentiment, claiming the fans’ backing will be key. “I think the fans will help us tomorrow. We want to show our best form against Betis,” he said.
Addressing the faults
When questioned about any concerns creeping in, the Italian coach emphasized that feeling worried is not necessarily a negative thing and shows that you are likely to take action to address it.
“Being worried is not bad because it means that you are taking care of the problem you have,” he argued.
Ancelotti also pointed out that the lack of synergy off the ball has to be addressed, stating, “It is not a very complicated problem. We have to defend better and that is a collective commitment and attitude.”
“The feeling is that it was difficult for us to recover the ball and that the opposing teams were hurting us between the lines. That is a problem we have and we will solve it,” he added.
Moreover, Ancelotti mentioned that being four points behind Barcelona is not a big deal considering the stage of the season. What really matters is improving their performances since the season is still long.
“Being four points behind Barcelona is a small detail. We are more affected by not having played well than by the four-point difference with Barcelona. The league is very long,” he professed.
Penalty taker dilemma
As for the topic of who will be the designated penalty taker, Ancelotti said, “The penalty is between Vinícius and Mbappé. They have to make the decision.”
In fact, the 65-year-old iterated that various situations can arise, like one player having already scored while another still needs to. He trusts both players to make the right choice at the end of the day.
“I think it’s right to give the responsibility to Vinícius and Mbappé because they have the same quality to take penalties.
“Many things happen in the game, it could be that one has already scored a goal, that the other needs to score a goal… I have confidence in both of them to choose the taker. I don’t see a problem there,” he added.
Dani Ceballos’ continuity
Dani Ceballos was speculated with an exit throughout the summer transfer window but looks set to continue in the Spanish capital.
Commenting on his situation, Ancelotti remarked, “Dani Ceballos is an important player for us. He hasn’t had the minutes he wanted, needed, or deserved, but we’re happy to have him with us. He’s a very serious professional.”
On Mbappe’s time at Real Madrid so far
Kylian Mbappe has yet to score his first goal in La Liga, and the mounting pressure on him is growing with each passing game.
Coming to the Frenchman’s defence, Ancelotti exclaimed, “In my opinion, Kylian is playing very well. There is no problem adapting with him.”
Claiming that criticism is part and parcel of the job, he added, “Criticism here is normal. The demands of this team do not worry us at all. We will have criticism from time to time until May, this is quite normal.”
“If we think about defensive work, Kylian is the last one we should think about. He plays very well even though he has not scored, his influence generates danger. Mbappé’s adaptation is not a problem,” Ancelotti elaborated.
The five-time Champions League winner also added that while Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. can switch their positions on the field, they have mainly played the Brazilian on the left and are likely to keep doing so.
“Mbappe and Vinícius can change their position on the pitch, but we have played more with Vini on the left and I think we will continue like this,” he mentioned.
Source: Diario AS