Real Madrid will face the toughest test of their season so far when they take on arch-rivals and neighbours Atletico Madrid away at the Civitas Metropolitano tomorrow night.
Already four points behind leaders Barcelona, Los Blancos could find themselves trailing the Catalans by seven points by the time tomorrow’s game kicks off.
As such, there is simply no room for error for Carlo Ancelotti and his men when they take on Diego Simeone’s side.
Ancelotti interacted with the media earlier today during his customary pre-match press conference and provided some crucial updates regarding injuries and tactics.
Discussing what type of match he expects tomorrow against Atletico, the Real Madrid manager said:
“Tomorrow will be the same as always. A complicated match against a very difficult opponent. It will be hard fought and very entertaining, with lots of goals because both teams have players with a lot of quality and it will be a spectacle.”
On the team
The Italian tactician also touched upon the issue of yellow cards and how his team were getting booked more often than others, saying:
“We have talked about the yellow cards, yes. There have been too many cards and the only way to avoid it is not to make unnecessary protests.”
Moving on, Ancelotti confirmed that Eduardo Camavinga is back from injury and is ready to play 90 minutes tomorrow if needed.
“Camavinga is available and can play 90 minutes or 0 minutes,” he remarked.
With Kylian Mbappe ruled out, reports suggest that Ancelotti might revert to a 4-4-2 diamond setup tomorrow, with Jude Bellingham returning to the attacking midfield position in which he thrived last season.
When asked about it, the manager said: “Bellingham’s position depends a lot on the strategy we want to do. Without Mbappe, it changes a bit but not much. It’s a pity he’s not there but we can fix it well because we did it last year.”
On the formation he wants to use with Mbappe ruled out, Ancelotti refused to give anything away, saying:
“I don’t pay much attention to the systems. What I do focus on is that the team shows solidarity and commitment.”
On whether Vinicius Jr. is the deserving candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, Ancelotti replied in the affirmative, saying:
“Vinicius deserves to win the Ballon d’Or for what he did last year. He got into the Champions League. I think he’s going to win it and if he doesn’t, nothing happens, we continue. He’s going on too.”
On Atletico Madrid and the derby
Refraining from responding directly when asked about Atleti fans planning to wear masks to the match today and the plans being made by some sections to target Vinicius Jr., Ancelotti said:
“The masks? Tomorrow is going to be a spectacle because there are great quality players.”
The scheduling of the derby has been called into question as Atletico Madrid have had 48 hours less rest compared to Real Madrid heading into tomorrow’s game.
On that matter, Ancelotti said: “I understand the complaints about Atletico Madrid’s rest because it has happened to us many times against Atletico Madrid too.”
Talking about how Real Madrid are approaching the all-important derby tomorrow, Ancelotti remarked:
“It’s a difficult match but every match has its own story. It’s very difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow. We have a plan and let’s see if it goes well.
“The team has improved compared to the last game. In the last few games, we have been more solid, more compact and more effective. We’ve scored a lot of goals and we’re on the right track. Tomorrow is a very important test.”
Giving his thoughts about Atletico Madrid, Ancelotti stated that he sees them as strong contenders for the league title.
“The match against Atletico is special because it’s a derby. My assessment of Atletico is that they have improved a lot because they have signed a lot and I think they are going to fight until the end for this league with us and with Barcelona,” he said.
Regarding the atmosphere at the Civitas Metropolitano, the Real Madrid boss stated: “The Metropolitano is a very complicated stadium where we have to improve and that’s it.”
When asked once again about the masks, he added: “We don’t think of talking about this. On a general level, the justice system is taking measures and decisions.
“It’s an issue that we don’t have to worry about because there are other bodies that are concerned as it’s only fair that it should be.”
Comparing the Madrid derby to what he has seen in Italy during his career, Ancelotti remarked:
“All derbies are special. It depends on the culture of the country. Here it’s a lot like the Rome derby because the fans have a lot of passion and they show it in the match. The Milan derby is much calmer because the northern man is a bit colder than the southern man, that’s quite clear.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo