Real Madrid News
Eder Militao talks Vinicius, Ramos, Brazil, Ancelotti ahead of Chelsea vs Real Madrid
A mainstay in the Real Madrid defence, Eder Militao has been hailed as one of the best centre-backs in the world this season. The Brazilian has guided los blancos from the back as they are en route to reaching the UCL semi-finals and possibly the Copa del Rey trophy.
They will have to face Chelsea on their path to the UCL, but have a 2-0 lead on aggregate against the blues on aggregate.
Ahead of the second leg, tomorrow, Militao spoke to the press as part of the customary player-manager pre-game conference.
On the game: “We have to do the same thing that we have been doing well. Tomorrow is going to be a difficult game.”
“Chelsea are a great team. We have to work a lot and we are going to do that. We are going to have to do a lot of things to win. It’s going to be a very difficult game, because Chelsea is a great team.”
“We have an advantage. Tomorrow we have to go out and win, not think about anything else. It’s going to be another difficult game. If we think about something else, we get complicated.”
On Vinicius: “He’s one of the best. It’s almost impossible to stop him, because he doesn’t stop running.”
On if he is the best CB in the world: “It’s everyone’s opinion. I think I’m on my way there. When I arrived it was a difficult time, because of the great players who were there. Now I think I’m doing very well.”
“As a center back, you have to work a lot. Today there are many good strikers and every day you have to prove that you are at your best personal level mentally. I think I’m doing that right. I try to give the most of me every game to make my teammates comfortable.”
On Sergio Ramos’ departure: “Concentration. Before it was a little complicated for me and with the help of everyone, the master and the colleagues, I listen to them a lot. I have to continue in this great moment and work to maintain this.”
On Carlo Ancelotti: “Ancelotti helps me a lot. He is a great coach. He talks to me almost every day. I have to learn more. Every day he teaches me something.”
On leading the Brazil defence: “In Brazil there has always been talk of attackers, but I am happy to be part of that path, of that evolution. Thiago Silva is a great defender, when I started playing I noticed and learnt from. He is a very good person.”
On Ancelotti’s future: “I leave this question for the master. I really like working with him here. I joke with him, but it’s his decision and he has a contract to fulfill.”
Source: Real Madrid TV
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
