The Italian Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, described Athletic Club's visit this Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu as “important” (9:00 p.m. CET, -1 GMT) while ensuring that they arrive “with all the confidence of the world” to get a good result after an international break in which the players “have recovered well.”
“The team is good. Those who have returned have recovered well. We have had a small problem with Camavinga, but he has trained normally. We have good feelings for tomorrow's game and we have to keep in mind that we are playing against a team that is very good, that plays with a lot of intensity. He is having a great season, fighting for Champions positions, with a lot of individual and organizational quality. “It is an important match that we come to with all the confidence in the world,” he analyzed at a press conference about the match.
“Athletic has a week to prepare for the final and tomorrow they are going to play hard. The Champions goal is very important for them. I don't think they are thinking about the final. They will think about coming to the Bernabéu and trying to score,” he added.
A match in which Vinícius Junior will not be in due to suspension, protagonist this week for his defense against racism in a press conference in which he could not contain his tears.
“For Vinícius it is a very important issue. He takes it very seriously. “It's what we all have to do,” he said.
In addition, he was critical of former Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who criticized 'Vini's press conference and assured that "football is for men."
“It doesn't make much sense to comment on what others who are not on the topic say. They talk to give air to their mouths. You don’t have to take much into account what they say,” she said.
A protagonism of Vinícius that Ancelotti wanted to downplay and focus on sports: “There is one thing that worries me a lot about Vinícius and that is that he cannot play tomorrow,” he said.
Furthermore, the Italian coach avoided talking about the future of Croatian Luka Modric, who ends his contract with Real Madrid at the end of this season.
“Everyone is talking about next season, except us. Luka Modric, like everyone, is focused on this season. We want to finish it well and win if possible. We will evaluate what the future will be when the season ends. Now no one is interested in talking about his future,” he said.
“I have no sensations. I see Modric looking good and ready to prepare for the end of the season. We all have the same thought, which is to finish the season well. “We are in a very important month and we have an optimal situation to get the best out of ourselves,” he added.
On the other hand, Ancelotti highlighted the growth of the Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin while he did not want to answer whether a possible arrival of the Frenchman Kilyan Mbappé generates excitement in Madrid fans.
“Lunin has improved a lot because he has had the opportunity to demonstrate his quality by playing. This has given him more confidence. His performance has been very good,” he reflected on the goalkeeper.
“Madrid fans are excited about Real Madrid. Regardless of the players who wear the shirt,” he said about Mbappé and his possible arrival at the white team.
