Real Madrid News
Ancelotti talks Vinicius, Kroos, Ceballos, Courtois, Benzema ahead of Cacereno vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid will play their first match of 2023 on Tuesday night when they take on RFEF Second Division outfit CP Cacereno in the Copa del Rey Round of 32.
Los Blancos head into the game on the back of a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga and will be looking to advance in the cup competition that they have not won since 2014.
On the eve of the game, manager Carlo Ancelotti appeared in front of the media for his customary pre-match press conference and answered various questions, the excerpts from which are as follows.
On the open training session earlier today: “There’s a good atmosphere. It’s very nice to do it. We’re delighted to do it. The fans are always close to us. It’s an important part of our job.”
On Vinicius facing racist abuse against Valladolid: “I cannot talk about an issue that for me does not have to exist. Racism and xenophobia do not have to exist. We are wrong, it is not Vinicius’ problem, it is society’s problem. Tolerance in this sense must be zero.”
On tomorrow’s match vs Cacereno: “Tomorrow is a match in which we have to be smart. In matches you have to put quality, commitment, fight… In a match in a competition like the Cup, we have to put in everything we have, which is quality, commitment, and also fight.”
On a busy schedule ahead: “It’s complicated, but we have all the resources to manage it well. We have the data, a technical staff with many people, the physio gives us information. It’s something new, but it can be managed well. The matches also help to improve the condition of the players.”
On whether he wishes to see Dani Ceballos continue at the club: “I don’t go into this subject. What I see is a player who is well, motivated, motivated and willing to train well. It’s a matter that the player has to evaluate with the club.”
On Toni Kroos’ future: “Kroos is going to be very clear in the next month. I think so, as a football fan it’s impossible to think he’s going to stop. Hopefully, he can continue.”
On whether competition organisers should do more to tackle racism: “I don’t go into this issue. It doesn’t have to be a problem of La Liga or of sanctions, it’s a cultural issue, of society in general. It is a problem of a society that does not have the education it should have.
“I will not focus on such an important issue in Vinicius, in La Liga or in sanctions. We have to look at something bigger: the problem of racism and xenophobia is very important.”
On travelling 300km by bus for tomorrow’s game: “I am happy to go by bus, because this way you can see something of Spain. It is a time to enjoy this wonderful country.”
On whether the contract situations of several players will hurt the team: “I don’t think we have any kind of problem with people talking about this. The status of the players and the clubs is also changing a bit. When a player reaches the end of his contract it is not as worrying as it was in the last few years. The clubs are not as worried about it.”
On Real Madrid winning just three Copa del Rey trophies in 30 years: “For us it is important. It’s not the most important one, which for us is the Champions League, but for the crest on our shirt we have to dignify all the competitions and win as many as you can.”
On Thibaut Courtois and Dani Carvajal’s training absence: “They have small problems. They will be available for the Villarreal game. They are rested tomorrow, as are Kroos, Alaba, Benzema, Vinicius and Mendy, who won’t have minutes. The rest are travelling to play a good game.”
On Castilla players: “Tomorrow we have Sergio Arribas, Nico Paz, Marvel and Álvaro Rodríguez. They are players who are doing very well with Castilla. Raúl is doing a very good job, because the young players are progressing very quickly.
“Also others like Mario Martín, Rafa Marín… The youth academy is producing players who can be useful for the future of Real Madrid.”
On the training session today: “It was very good. It’s a nice moment for us and the fans to be together. In this type of training, because of the noise around you can’t talk too much with the players. In a tactical training session you have to stop and talk to the players, which you can’t do in this kind of session, but it’s nice.”
Source: Real Madrid Twitter
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.
