Real Madrid News
Ancelotti talks Camavinga, Benzema, Modric, Alaba ahead of Real Madrid vs Valencia
Real Madrid smell trouble at the Santiago Bernabeu as the gear up to face Valencia at home. They dropped points against Real Sociedad on the weekend, enabling Barcelona to go five point clear at the top of La Liga.
Not to mention, Madrid’s schedule ahead looks a bit too difficult for anyone’s liking, with the Club World Cup, away trips to Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Betis, and even Real Sociedad on the cards.
Should Madrid come out of this unscathed, Carlo Ancelotti should and would be held in all his glory – yet again. The man, the myth, the legend spoke to the media as part of his pre-game press conference earlier today.
On the Real Sociedad game: “We played a very good game vs Sociedad. It was. complete performance. We are improving in every aspect.”
On Ferland Mendy’s injury: “Camavinga played as an LB because it was an emergency. Alaba and Nacho can play there. But Camavinga is also very good in that position.”
“Camavinga will play as a left-back tomorrow.”
On their defence: “Our defence is more solid now. We only conceded one goal – vs Atletico – across the last three games.”
On the title race: “Five points between us and Barcelona? We feel confident. We feel good and we know we can fight for all the titles.”
On winter signings: “We did not buy any players in January because we planned the squad in the summer. And it was a very good plan. We do not need anybody.”
On Benzema-Modric exit rumours: “Benzema and Modric to Saudi Arabia? I think two legends like them have to retire at Real Madrid. They have to stay.”
On Carvajal and Tchouameni: “They are back and 100% ready to play.”
“Tchouameni will start tomorrow.”
On Ceballos: “He has the same qualities of Luka Modric. He can replace him in the future.”
On Fran Garcia: “We thought it would have been good for him to stay at Rayo Vallecano and improve there.”
On players not getting minutes: “Mariano, Odriozola, Hazard, Vallejo don’t play? It’s simple. Other players are playing. I’m here to win games, not give the players minutes.”
On titles: “We will never sacrifice a competition to focus on another. We are close to win the Copa, we will play the most important tournament – UCL – and we will fight until the end for La Liga.”
On the hectic calendar: “The schedule is crazy. There is a limit, and they have crossed the line. We love playing many games, but the problem is the tiredness of the players.”
On Alaba: “He should be back for the Club World Cup.”
Source: Real Madrid TV
There is no way back for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid. The Belgian international has not given the management any reason to have faith in his abilities over his past four seasons at the club and is unsurprisingly the most important departure for the Merengues in the summer.
Hazard has one more year on his contract in Madrid. However, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti does not trust him and that any potential replacement manager in the summer will echo his stance.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are willing to go all out to sign Hazard this summer. The Turkish side have made the former Chelsea their prime target, yet face a steep task ahead of them.
The 32-year-old is hellbent on seeing out his contract with Los Blancos despite seeing his career sink right before his eyes. It thus becomes complicated for the party to lure away the forward, especially in a competition outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Fenerbahce attempted to sign the winger in the recently concluded winter transfer market. They reached an agreement with Real Madrid but failed to get over the line as they could not convince the player of the move.
The biggest obstacle for the Turkish side will be convincing Hazard to make the move by letting go of his lucrative contract in Madrid. The chances are slim, but not impossible.
Hazard has made just three league appearances and one start for Ancelotti’s side this season in La Liga, a steep fall from last season’s 18 and seven respectively.
His last appearance for the team came back in January when Real Madrid faced Cacereno in the Copa del Rey. In La Liga however, he last played in September 2022 in a 4-1 win over Mallorca.
