Real Madrid News
Ancelotti talks Courtois, Modric, Hazard, Benzema, Camavinga ahead of Real Madrid vs Shakhtar
Real Madrid will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they lock horns with Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Real Madrid dropped their first points of the 2022/23 season across all competitions this past weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Osasina. And the reigning champions of Spain and Europe will be intent on producing a strong reaction after the disappointing result.
The game against Shakhtar Donetsk will give them the opportunity to just that and manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the press on the eve of the game, outlining his team’s objectives as well as providing team news update.
On the Shakhtar game: “We all know that it is a very important game to get the group back on track. We are well prepared for this and the fact that we did not play a good game on Sunday counts. We want to show another attitude, another image.”
On team news: “Courtois won’t play tomorrow. Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez will return. The one who won’t be there will be Ceballos, who has had a problem with his hamstring”.
On whether Modric will start: “I’m not sure if he will start tomorrow.”
On Eden Hazard: “It is clear that each player knows his situation. If a player asks me for an explanation, I give it to him, but Eden has not spoken to me. He knows the situation, that the competition is very tough, as it happens to him to other players.
On Karim Benzema being criticised: “When he’s not at his best, people may have different opinions. But that’s normal and doesn’t affect us.”
On which among UCL and La Liga is difficult to win: “I always wanted to win the Champions League. La Liga is very important, but the Champions League is the most important in football and winning it means a lot.
“They are two different competitions, of course. Because one has 38 games and much less. Small details influence the Champions League and that’s not luck or bad luck. To talk about luck is to hide many things. I
“It’s as if I were to say that we were unlucky against Osasuna because we missed a penalty, it would be to hide that we were wrong in recovery or that Osasuna played very well. Small details are also a collective mentality”.
“And I add that Madrid is the one that takes the most care of these details in its history”
On Courtois’ condition: “He’s much better. We have doubts against Getafe, but it could be that next week he’ll be against Shakhtar and against Barça, obviously.”
On Xavi and Messi’s statement about best teams not always winning UCL: “I can’t comment on this. Everyone has their opinion.
“For me, playing football is many things, not just having a good time with the ball. You are not successful if you only do well one thing, especially in the Champions League. It’s easier to say that the Champions are won by the best.”
On whether Camavinga is better coming on as a sub: “I agree. When the game starts he has a more positional problem. It’s a matter of time, experience… It’s the aspect that will improve because he is a player with quality extraordinary. He is 19 years old, everything that happens to him is normal.”
On Shakhtar Donetsk: “They are a team that have had a lot of problems training, travelling… They have started well in the Champions League group, their style is similar to last year. They’re very vertical, with fast forwards and strong counterattacks. We have a lot of respect for them.”
Source: MARCA
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
