Real Madrid News
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti ‘the best coach in history’ says former goalkeeper
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has said that Carlo Ancelotti is the best manager in the history of the sport, adding that the kind of freedom he gives to his team is formidable.
“I think Ancelotti is the best coach in history who manages great teams and players,” said the former keeper as quoted by AS.
“His way of communicating with the players and giving them freedom on the field is surprising and unusual, but it works,” he added.
Dudek, who played 12 games for the team across four seasons, added that while winning the league title is normal, being the contender for the Champions League despite not being the favourites at the beginning of the season is what defines Real Madrid.
“Winning the Spanish League is normal for the team, but in the Champions League, there is a team that can win the title without being the favourite at the beginning of the season, and now it seems that Real Madrid is the closest to winning the title,” he said.
On the Bayern Munich game
Real Madrid played a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg tie.
Speaking about the return leg at Santiago Bernabeu, Dudek said that Madrid might as well be the favourites mostly because they do not play in a fixed system.
“The next match against Bayern Munich will be one of the most important matches of the season.
“Real Madrid is a completely different team, with high-quality players and a style that is not similar to that of many other teams.
“They are well organized and surprise you because their team’s tactics are not always clear, unlike other teams,” he explained.
Dudek’s thought on Barcelona
The former keeper went on to add that it has been a good season for Real Madrid overall mostly because La Liga is almost sealed, snatching the title from Barcelona.
“It has been a very good season for Real Madrid. We are on the verge of winning the league title after beating Barcelona, which is the most important thing in La Liga.”
Lastly, he also had words reserved for Barcelona, adding that although they are a strong team, their progress has been hampered by the troubling finances.
“Barcelona is a strong team, but it is under financial pressure and faces many problems.
“They are building a new stadium, so they couldn’t keep up with Real Madrid, who I think thanks to their great performance this season, reached the semi-finals of the Champions League,” he added.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid hope captain will resume group training tomorrow and be ready for Villarreal
Real Madrid received a major boost in training today as Kylian Mbappe participated in the group session, indicating his readiness for the upcoming game against Villarreal.
The French superstar had returned from international duty with a knee injury, but seems to have left it behind and appears ready to start at the Santiago Bernabeu come Saturday.
What about Federico Valverde?
Now, according to AS, Federico Valverde was not part of the group training session today at Valdebebas. Instead, he was involved in an individual session away from his teammates.
However, Real Madrid hope that their club captain will be able to resume working with the rest of the squad on Thursday, putting him in the fray to return in time for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal.
Valverde is currently recovering from an ankle sprain that he sustained in Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat against Atletico Madrid prior to the international break.
The Uruguayan midfielder was on the receiving end of a harsh tackle from Kang-In Lee, which left him injured, ruling him out of action for the national team.
The 28-year-old stayed behind in Madrid and has worked hard on his recovery, with things progressing in the right direction.
What now remains to be seen is whether he can jump back into group training session on Thursday, which would put him on the path to return to action against Villarreal.
A key player for Mourinho
So far this season, Valverde has emerged as a permanent fixture in the team under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The Real Madrid captain has started all of the team’s eight matches in all competitions this term, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
His potential availability for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal will come as a major boost for Mourinho & co. Everything will depend on how things progress in tomorrow’s training session at Valdebebas.
With Ibrahima Konate also recovering from his knee sprain, Real Madrid have only three players sidelined currently: Raul Asencio, who recently underwent surgery, Rodrygo Goes, who is a long-term absentee, and Ferland Mendy, who has resumed work with the ball.
