Ancelotti: "We expect a match without time to breathe"

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, made it clear that this Tuesday's match at Anfield against English Liverpool, corresponding to the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, will be "different" from last year's final. for having come back, although he does know that he will not have "time to breathe" in a duel where he doubts putting a "controlled back" or "forceful up top" team.

"Last year's final was an even match, it may be that they had more possession, but we were well behind and you can always get something good out of that against Liverpool. But this Tuesday will be different because there are two games and there are You have to take it into account, you have to do the 180 minutes well," Ancelotti said this Monday at a press conference.

The Italian admitted that they return "well and with enthusiasm and desire to do well" in a Champions League in which he believes that, "to this day", they have "more chances" of conquering it than at this point last year. "We have a very complicated tie, but it's not just this game, we also have to do well in the second leg," he reiterated.

"We are expecting a very intense game, with a lot of pressure and where we won't have time to breathe and where they press and press you, but we are prepared for this", warned the one from Reggiolo, who doubts about which eleven to put if with Fede Valverde in the middle and Rodyrgo Goes up or with the most advanced Uruguayan and Dani Ceballos. "It's what I'm thinking. I have doubts about putting a more controlled team behind or putting a more forceful one up, I hope I'm not wrong," he confessed.

Ancelotti confirmed that Karim Benzema will start because he looks "good" and regretted the loss of Toni Kroos due to his experience. "We continue with the transition, but this is forced and we didn't want it, but it doesn't worry me because the feelings we've had without Kroos are good. Those who have replaced Toni and Tchouameni have done well and I have complete confidence in the squad and the two that are going to play", he stressed.

The Madrid coach sees his team "behind well", despite the fact that he was "asleep" in the Club World Cup. "Before we had two clean sheets against Athletic and Real and after the World Cup another two clean sheets against Elche and Osasuna. The team is getting used to defending well and avoiding mistakes and this Tuesday the defensive role will be very important. I am convinced that we will do it well," he said.

On an individual level, he considered that both Real Madrid and Liverpool are more concerned with the collective and referred to Vinicius Jr who "likes to play football, wherever he is and even more so when they are such important games like this one". "Right now it's a pleasure to see him, everyone likes the quality of players like him, Pedri, Gavi or Mbappé and that we can enjoy this quality," he added.

Asked about the racist insults that the Brazilian is receiving, the Italian pointed out that "he is managing it very well personally" and that "it does not affect his performance on the pitch", at the same time that he considered it difficult to solve the issue of racism because it does not there is "a law that can change a person's head".

"It has to change with culture and common sense," he replied, defending Spain. "I do not blame Spain, it is a fantastic country to live in every way. Episodes of this type happen in all countries, what I would like is for the respect towards people to change more," he settled.

He also referred to the figure of Luka Modric and his renewal. "Luka has a career in which he has already shown and in which he continues to show. He did not have a good time in January, but now he has returned to his best level and he will continue to grow because his physical quality is very good and he also has the enthusiasm and desire to play for Real Madrid", he highlighted.

Finally, Ancelotti celebrated returning to Anfield, the stadium he visited during his time in the Premier League with Chelsea and, above all, with the city's great rival, Everton, and where he won 3-0 in the 2014-2015 season. with Real Madrid. "I have good memories of that game, but Liverpool have changed a lot in these eight years, they are more powerful and with much better quality. The attitude and commitment of that game can be repeated, the result seems very complicated to me, almost impossible ", he concluded.