Ancelotti: "We look forward and not backwards"

MADRID, 4 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is clear that despite a great 2021-2022 season and some victories that "reinforce" them, they must look "forward", starting with the European Super Cup next week against Eintracht Frankfurt, against which he hopes to have "the very strong motivation" of having won the Champions League.

"We look forward and not backwards. Last year's victories reinforce what we believe in, but we have to focus on the next games. In this next season there are six titles at stake, and we want to fight for all of them", Ancelotti underlined in a interview with the official UEFA media published this Thursday.

The first will be next week with the European Super Cup in Helsinki against a German Eintracht Frankfurt with whom he has "some disadvantages" since they have started "his season earlier". "Last year, they achieved something special in the Europa League because they weren't among the favourites. They played great games, beating Barcelona at the Camp Nou with a counterattack style of football, with great attention to defense and high-speed transitions. ", he stressed.

In any case, he sees the team "prepared and already in top form" after a great 2022. "The joy and satisfaction that you feel after victories like the Champions League final tend to stay, making you feel that nobody should occupy your place, and that is a very strong motivation to keep winning", he warned.

This competition could serve as the official premiere of Antonio Rüdiger and Aurelien Tchouameni, the only signings of the European champion and, for the Italian, "two players who are among the best in the world in their role." "First of all, their quality increases the physical and technical capacity of the team. Then there is the need to adapt to the group and for the group to adapt to them a little bit," he clarified.

"We must not forget that the three who left, Marcelo, Isco and Bale, have made history for this club in recent years, for which all of Real Madrid is grateful to those players. We hope that the new ones can repeat the feats of those who have left", wished the Reggiolo coach.

Going back to last season, Ancelotti insisted on his pride in winning his fourth Champions League and being the first to conquer the top five European leagues. "It was an incredible season both for me and for Real Madrid. Naturally, returning to Real Madrid has been very gratifying for me, for me it is important to continue being the manager of this great club and this great team," he said.

The continental conquest was marked by comebacks, a memory that is still "very fresh" and that caused "also a very special chemistry with the fans and the stadium". "All the comebacks we made were achieved in our stadium, thanks to that push that came from the stands. You always have to believe, you never have to give up. After all, we played against very strong teams and it was inevitable that we would suffer", admitted.

"In 2014, the 'Decima' was probably more predictable because the team had already come close to it many times. Gareth Bale had just joined us and we were favorites to win the title from the start. This year we were anything but the favourites. , but we still managed to win, thanks to the great cohesion and quality of the team. I think the key factors were the humility and experience of the older players, complemented by the energy and enthusiasm of the younger players," Ancelotti said.