Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday night’s fixture against RCD Espanyol, and was asked about the future of football and how to overcome a demanding schedule with the suggestion of a salary reduction for players. The coach responded that, “football needs to reflect. If this, lowering matches, comes from lowering the salary… The goal is to play less. If the players play less, they have no problem in lowering their salary.”
Ancelotti on a tactical shift back to the system from last year
“It’s something we’re evaluating. They generated a lot of chances for us. Against Stuttgart we failed to get out from the back. A bit like what happened to Barça yesterday, which cost them a sending-off. Against Real Sociedad we also failed to come out, twice. We were at risk because we failed with the ball, not because we lacked defensive balance in transitions. It’s because we failed with the ball. To avoid this, we have to get the ball further up the pitch as soon as possible. Sometimes, a long ball is the solution to avoid problems.”
Ancelotti on playing with four midfielders
“It’s difficult to say, but balance is something collective that you can do with two strikers or three. The Champions League in Paris was with three strikers, but a perfect balance. Having one more midfielder doesn’t mean more balance. You can do it with three or four strikers. Now the debate can be: What is Bellingham? Forward, midfielder… Balance can come from collective work. We are going to have it, no doubt.”
Ancelotti on a change in the schedule
“This season is not going to change. The important thing is to reflect on this. That the bodies, UEFA, FIFA, realize that the players are getting tired. That is the objective. The calendar this season will not change. The players are thinking about changing the future of football.”
Ancelotti on his definition of beautiful football
“For me I think that beautiful football depends on the characteristics of the players I have. Attacking well, defending well… playing well on the counter. There are many facets and everyone has their own opinion.”
Ancelotti on whether it bothers him when people say that Real Madrid don’t deserve to win
“No, it doesn’t bother me. The fans are delighted. You can play better, but the fans are used to ‘rock and roll’ football. Not a lot of touches. We try to make the Madrid fans happy. The ideal would be to win and play well. For me, against Stuttgart, sometimes we made fantastic plays.”
Ancelotti on what his team needs to play “rock and roll” football
“Intensity, rhythm… Without wasting too much time in reaching the opponent’s goal. These are our characteristics. We have players with a lot of strength, especially with the ball, and we have to take advantage of that.”
Ancelotti on the balance of the team
“The goal of the team is to be compact. If Vinicius, Kylian and Rodrygo press and the midfielders don’t get forward, it’s not Vinicius and Mbappé’s problem. To be compact, we have to bring the lines closer together. That’s all. I understand you, your thinking. That the lack of balance is because Vinicius, Mbappé and Rodrygo do not work. It is not like that. I don’t ask them to work for the midfielders and defenders. If I want to defend I don’t put them, I put three defenders. Unfortunately, there is work with and without the ball and we have to find the balance there.”
Ancelotti on this weekend being a chance to catch up with Barcelona
“In addition to the calendar, the propitious thing is to play well and arrive well on Tuesday. See that the team is improving, that it has a good dynamic … That’s favourable. After that, the season is very long. It’s not the time to think about our rivals.”
Ancelotti on Endrick Felipe
“He will be a starter in some of the upcoming games and in many of Madrid’s games. With the quality he has, it’s obvious. He is very humble, talks little and works a lot. I like that.”
Ancelotti on Eduardo Camavinga
“Camavinga is very close. He will work with the team next week and he is working very well. It is very important for us. It allows us to have more means and he will contribute a lot.”
Ancelotti on the percentage that his team are at
“We are not at our best and that is normal. We improve when the season starts to get into the important things. For the moment we are at, we are fine.”
Ancelotti on the Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup
“It’s not clear yet. We play what we are asked to play. We are not focused on this. We come from the Champions League, now LaLiga. We have a lot to think about until December.”
Ancelotti on whether he’ll rotate against Espanyol
“Tomorrow may be a good day, but today is not the time to say it.”
Ancelotti on what he wants to see on Saturday
“A Real Madrid that improves, that progresses, that seems to enter into good dynamics.”