Real Madrid have a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the summit of La Liga after the shocking defeat of FC Barcelona at the hands of Malaga. And Carlo Ancelotti has urged his players to not to take the challenge of Elche lightly.
Real Madrid skipper Iker Casillas has made some disastrous errors in past few games and he has been booed by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful on a regular basis. But Ancelotti has confirmed that Casillas will start the game ahead of Kaylor Navas.
Ancelotti also revealed that Ramos and Coentrao are still not recovered while; Luka Modric and Jese are expected to be fit for a key clash against FC Barcelona in March.
a Ramos and CoentrA?o still have not recovered. Sergio is improving well. CoentrA?o will begin to train with the team next week. Varane and Carvajal have recovered without any problems. Casillas will play today,a said Ancelotti in his press conference.
a Modric and Jese are improving, they are doing quite well. Modric has worked with us since Thursday. He still has not had a full session with the team but he will next week. I think that he will be ready by 22 March and we hope to be able to select him before then”.
The Real Madrid boss asked his players to take the benefit of FC Barcelonaa s slip-out against Malaga. a We have pressure because we are playing a difficult game in a difficult week. That is why there is pressure, we know that if we win then we stay top of the table and that is our aim”.
a It will be a game with lots of intensity and pace. Elche have improved their game over the last fortnight. They are organized and confident.a
This will be a 100th game of Ancelotti as Real Madrid boss and the Italian said that he feels appreciated by both, the fans and players.
a I feel that I am appreciated. Everyone around me shows me affection. The players, the club, the president. We are not in a hurry to renew my contract. My aim is to win titles and that is possible for us. Ever since I arrived, I knew that we have to win. That is nothing new for me. At all of the clubs I’ve managed, the aim was to win titles”