01/10/2023
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke at a press conference on the eve of the Spanish Super Cup match against Valencia.
The importance of the title: "Titles are important for the club. Last year's gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. I hope it will be the same with this Super Cup. We hope to come back home with another title."
The defence: "It was predictable that we wouldn't be in top form at this point in the season. But I was surprised that our game against Villarreal was not good. We showed a different face. We have to do again things well, I'm not saying work because we don't have time to do it. This team knows how to defend very well and we have enough quality up front."
No Spaniards in the XI against Villarreal: "I think it was just a coincidence. The heart of this club is Spanish, that's for sure. Madrid are a universal club, loved all over the world "We have Spanish players, La Cantera, and this is the club that trains the most players in La Liga. It's just a coincidence."
If he notes a mental burden on the players: "No. We are affected by the result against Villarreal but we will see how the team reacts. The Supercup is a very important test. When I was little and going to At school, my grandmother would tell me to put my book under the pillow and I always did well on the exam."
Make the sextuplet: "We have to fight for all the titles and we are close to winning one. We will try to do it. Then we will see, we have to move forward without thinking about it. The goal is the Supercup ."
Gattuso: "We had a great time together, we won two Champions Leagues. Our relationship was not always good after that, there were problems between us and I don't want to talk about it. Gattuso play with a lot of intensity, they have his identity, that's clear."
If he is concerned: "No, we have already seen this compact and solid block. I am convinced that we will see it again. The defensive aspect is not a question of quality but of mentality and sacrifice."
Penalties: "It's true that we don't work on them a lot. The players shoot them at the end of the session and that's how I evaluate. The feeling of the players and the desire to shoot or not has also his influence. It's sometimes difficult to find five players who want to shoot. The mental aspect is very complicated, it's impossible to recreate the atmosphere of a penalty shoot-out."
Cristiano: "Playing the Supercup here, with this atmosphere... We are delighted. Cristiano was a fantastic recruit, we wish him the best. He is a legend of our club, like Bale who retired. We wish the best too. They are players who will remain in the hearts of all Madridistas."
