Before starting the 2024/25 season, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media, and in particular on the topic of the arrival of superstar Kylian Mbappé, about which he said, “with all the new players, the people at the club try to make them feel comfortable. An extraordinary talent has arrived, we have to help him adapt. He has entered the dressing room very well, with humility, very serious? He has started very well”.
Ancelotti on aiming for seven trophies
“We think about reality, especially the players, they are the ones who are going to play the matches. And they know when it is difficult to win. A match demands quality, sacrifice, thinking too far ahead is not good at all. Obviously we can’t think about what will happen in May, we must work every day to get to May and win every game.”
Ancelotti on missing Toni Kroos
“The first game went well, we will always miss Kroos, he was a special player. Looking for another one is impossible, we must adapt. It’s not bad, if you get used to it too much it’s not good. It’s good for the players to have to think.”
Ancelotti on signing a central defender
“The squad is closed, we must wait until the market closes. We think Alaba will come back well. And we have young players who can play. We have been unlucky with Joan’s injury. Asencio and Jacobo can contribute.”
Ancelotti on targets for players
“What I ask is that they put everything they have to choose from. And nothing more. I always focus a lot on working as a team, the players must think the same.”
Ancelotti on changes against Mallorca
“Bellingham’s position hasn’t changed, in the center on the left. Sometimes he goes down to bring the ball out. But in attack it’s the same. I have to evaluate tomorrow’s team, maybe there will be some changes, maybe not.”
Ancelotti on Rodrygo
“He brings a lot, in Warsaw when we went 4-4-2 he works a lot with the midfield. He should focus on that work, he does it very well, the data says he brings a lot, in defense and in attack.”
Ancelotti on resting players
“Vinícius, who goes with Brazil, when he comes back instead of playing in La Liga, he rests, three-four days, he goes on vacation. And then he comes back. That’s the only way. Normally those players train, even if they don’t play. But we’re going to take that away, let them do what they want to do on those days. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Ancelotti on defending the title
“This league has to be fought with all the teams, the quality of Spanish football is evident. Not only because of how they play in La Liga, but also because of what the Spaniards have been able to do in the Euros and the Olympics. It is quality football. Barcelona, Atleti, who have strengthened well? We have to fight for everything, that’s how it will be. It will be a fun League, the first matches have been very good, with a lot of play, few fouls, few interruptions. We have started well and we have to continue this line. And the semi-automatic offside clarifies the refereeing a little more, it will help us a lot. Hopefully it will be a fun season, especially for us”.
Ancelotti on the Club World Cup
“For now the date is not yet organised, like the Intercontinental. There is a chance to win seven competitions, but we don’t know when or how.”
Ancelotti on a long season
“We are not thinking about the 2025-26 season, it may start earlier because of the World Cup, but we are in this season. The players need rest, they need vacation, we are thinking about giving individual vacations to the players. A player can not play for a week and go to rest with his family, especially international players, who have very little rest. They don’t even get a day’s vacation. We are evaluating it with the medical staff and the physical preparation.”
Ancelotti on still being in a honeymoon spell
“It remains the same, it’s the longest in history, obviously I’m very happy. It’s hard to imagine the day that comes, in 2021, that I could be sitting here with everything we’ve won. Nobody thought so, neither did you guys, you don’t have much faith…”
Ancelotti on all the competitions
“We still don’t know how many competitions we have to play, there are two (Club World Cup and Intercontinental) that are not clear. But we are going to compete in everything we can, in every match. Nobody here is talking about septet, we are talking about the matches we have to play. Above all, tomorrow’s match. There is no other thought. The calendar demands this. With this squad, we can certainly compete for everything.”
Ancelotti on starting the season
“Tomorrow the league starts, with all the illusion of keeping the title. Another coach has arrived there, very expert and very capable. We will have to fight to win.”
