Carlo Ancelotti during his appearance before the media. /
Classic
«Barça has improved a lot and is in a good dynamic; I would not rule him out, no matter what happens, ”says the Madrid coach
“Benzema cannot play because he has not trained with the group,” Carlos Ancelotti announced this Saturday at the press conference prior to the classic against Barça. The French striker withdrew from the match against Mallorca played on Monday and since that day he has lived against the clock to arrive on time for the duel against the eternal rival at the Bernabéu. Finally he will not be able to be in the classic and the Italian coach will have to find solutions to supply his main asset in attack, something that Ancelotti has already planned, although he did not want to reveal anything. “It is already decided who is going to play, but I am not going to say it,” he settled.
Benzema’s loss weighs heavily on a Real Madrid team that largely depends on the success of the French striker. His are more than a third of the Whites’ goals but, despite this, Ancelotti considers that they can overcome his absence. «Karim is a very important part, because he finishes all the work, but without him we have to keep up that work and look for different solutions. He doesn’t worry me that he doesn’t play; we can win without him », he assured. “Bale is an option, like Mariano, Jovic, Asensio, Isco… There are many, but I have chosen the one that I think is best for this match,” he added.
Real Madrid is 10 points ahead of Sevilla and 15 over Barcelona, a significant distance but one that Ancelotti does not consider enough to launch the bells in the event of victory. «If we win we have three more points; if we tie, one; and if we lose, none. I would not rule out Barcelona in any case, whatever happens. They are going to fight until the last game », he affirmed, while acknowledging the step forward that Xavi’s team has taken since the two teams met in the first round. «It is a team with a very clear style and Xavi embodies it perfectly. Barcelona has improved a lot and is in a good dynamic. They are doing very well », he acknowledged.
Ancelotti also spoke about the style his team will have against one of the most dominant teams with the ball. “I don’t rule out anything. I have always tried to apply a style in which the players are comfortable. For me, football is not just a style. You have to be able to play in various ways and this squad has so much quality that it can do it », he stated, while referring to some of the virtues that his team will have to show to beat Barça. “It will be a game with many facets. We will have to press well, start well from behind. many things will have to be done. If we think that with just one thing we are going to win, we are wrong », he warned.