Real Madrid News
Carlo Ancelotti talks Endrick, Rudiger, Courtois after Real Madrid 3-1 Stuttgart
After another win for his team, and their first in this year’s Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti faced the press to break down Real Madrid’s performance against Stuttgart.
Although the result was positive, Ancelotti expressed that the match itself left room for improvement. He was pleased with the victory but acknowledged that the team’s performance could have been better.
“The headline of the night could be: Real Madrid have won the first game of this new Champions League format, nothing more,” said the manager as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Ancelotti summed up the night by stating that while Real Madrid secured their first win in the new Champions League format, there was still work to be done.
“We are still looking for our best version and at times we have done well. When we scored the game could have been over but after the draw, we had the strength to win a very important game,” he explained.
Ancelotti’s vast experience in over 200 Champions League matches has taught him that every victory comes with its challenges.
“If anyone thinks that winning games is easy, they are wrong. I have coached more than 200 Champions League games and I do not remember any of them without suffering.”
Thoughts on Endrick, Courtois and Rudiger
One of the standout players of the night was Endrick, who caught Ancelotti’s attention. The Brazilian youngster showed bravery by taking a shot during a counterattack that resulted in a crucial goal.
According to Ancelotti, the expected move would have been to pass, but Endrick chose to go for goal, showcasing his instinctive talent.
“Endrick had the courage because it was the last ball of the game. The best solution was to take advantage of the counterattack, which was 3 to 1.
“He was convinced to score and he did it very well. He probably chose the most complicated solution, but the result was very good,” noted the manager.
Turning his attention to Thibaut Courtois, Ancelotti didn’t hold back in his praise for the goalkeeper, calling him the best in the world right now.
He reflected on having coached many high-level goalkeepers throughout his career but singled out Courtois as being in a league of his own at present.
“I can make a list. He is the best in the world now, but I have had goalkeepers of great level. At the moment, Thibaut is the best of all.”
Ancelotti also touched on Antonio Rudiger’s contribution, especially his goal. He pointed out that the team had focused heavily on set pieces, and his strength in heading was key.
“We worked a lot on set pieces. His head is a strength, and Modric’s great foot must be appreciated.”
Balance is needed
When analysing the team’s overall play, Ancelotti explained the balance between building up play and opting for a more direct, vertical approach.
He noted that while some might prefer a more constructive style, sometimes a direct approach can lead to success, as was the case with the first goal from Tchouameni’s long ball.
“You have to choose between building or playing vertically. Sometimes the coach chooses to play vertically. If we played constructively for the attack we would not have scored the first goal which was a long ball from Tchouameni.”
As for comparisons between this season and last, Ancelotti brushed them off, stating that he doesn’t recall the details of last year well. However, he remembered that suffering through tough moments was nothing new for Real Madrid.
“I don’t remember last year very well. If I remember correctly, we won the first match against Union Berlin, and we suffered a lot.
“There is nothing new in suffering. If someone thinks they will win the title easily, they are wrong. You have to fight and suffer,” concluded the manager.
Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho was always clear about getting rid of Real Madrid midfielder this summer – report
Real Madrid’s summer transfer window was largely successful, not only in terms of securing key arrivals but also in terms of letting go of players who had no place in the dynamics.
One player who stood out in the second category was Dani Ceballos as the Spanish midfielder was frozen out of Real Madrid’s starting dynamics for several years before his eventual departure.
In the end, the club simply let the player leave as a free agent by accepting a contract termination as they saw the salary space freed as a win compared to his presence.
Mourinho’s clear stance
As confirmed in a recent report by Diario AS, Real Madrid’s new manager Jose Mourinho has no doubt that he did not count on Ceballos for the ongoing season.
Being the straightforward communicator that he is, the Portuguese manager directly informed Ceballos that he did not count on him in any capacity, speaking out loud about a fact that was known as an open secret for a long time.
Having clarity that his situation at the club was not going to change, Ceballos pressed to leave and eventually had his way as the club allowed him to walk out of the front door with no transfer fee.
Times were tense
The Spanish outlet also add that the decision to let the player leave with a contract termination was not easy for Real Madrid to accept, especially given that it is a last resort.
In the negotiations between Ceballos and the Real Madrid hierarchy, there were some moments filled with tension and disagreements.
In fact, there was even an initial exit agreement that was reached which was cancelled in the hope of a better outcome.
Eventually, however, both parties reached a fitting resolution and Real Madrid enabled the player’s departure without any hurdles and Ceballos went on to join Real Betis.
Even that move required the player to take a massive cut on his salary, but the saga worked out well for both clubs as the player. From Real Madrid’s perspective, the space created on the team’s roster was worth its weight in gold.
