Ancelotti talks Bellingham, Olmo, offside trap, referee ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona | OneFootball

After defeating RCD Mallorca earlier this week, Real Madrid are all set to take on arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia.

The Merengues, who are the current holders of the Spanish Super Cup, have already lifted two trophies this season in the form of the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

And, adding a third title, that too at the expense of their bitter rivals, will fill the Real Madrid locker room with great motivation heading into tomorrow’s contest.

On the eve of the game, Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media at his customary pre-match press conference, discussing various topics relating to both teams.

Kicking things off, the Italian explained how he and his players are approaching their third final of the current season, saying:

“Well, as always before a final. With a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of desire. The problems from the game against Mallorca have been resolved. We are very excited and confident. As always in the finals.”

Ancelotti then confirmed that in-form Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham will be fit and available after he suffered from overload during the Mallorca clash.

“He is fine, he has recovered well. It was normal load from matches. It’s very important because he’s on a good run. He is a player who has made a difference,” confirmed the manager.

Real Madrid were hammered by Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season and Ancelotti insisted that they must avoid repeating the mistakes from that game.

“In the first game we played you have to think. We made a pretty clear assessment. We started well and went down in the second half. We have to avoid the mistakes we made,” said the 65-year-old.

“A Clasico is always a Clasico, even more so if it’s a final. Playing against Barcelona is always something special.”

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick replaced Inaki Pena in the starting lineup for their Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club as he arrived late to a training session. And Ancelotti was asked if he had ever taken such actions, to which he replied:

“The timetable is important. Players have to be disciplined. When you are in a group you don’t like the group waiting for you.

“The decision, I want an explanation for the delay. If the reason is acceptable nothing happens, if it is not acceptable we take measures. That can be any kind of measure.”

Ancelotti vs Flick again tomorrow. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Talking about recent Clasico encounters, Ancelotti pointed out how there were games where individual quality had prevailed over the balance of the team, but emphasised that the collective work will be key.

“Because quality prevailed compared to the balance of the team. That’s one of the reasons. There is a lot of individual quality. An important aspect will be balance and collective work.”

Further discussing tomorrow’s match, he added: “If there’s a defeat, it’s a defeat. It’s a final, we’re very close to another title and we’re thinking positively.

“I’m aware that anything can happen in football. Especially when the opponent competes the way they have competed. A defeat wouldn’t be good, but the team is moving forward.”

The last El Clasico saw Real Madrid fall victim to Barcelona’s offside trap on a whopping 12 occasions and Ancelotti stressed that they must find a way to tackle that.

“It is an important aspect that we have looked at and that we have to evaluate and counteract. It is an important aspect,” he remarked.

On how he plans on winning the game tomorrow, Ancelotti said: “Barça are always a historic rival. They are very complicated matches. It’s difficult for us, difficult for them. You can’t predict the result. We try to do our best and try to win another title.”

Talking about how he handles the players and what he asks of them in terms of training and physical work, Ancelotti said:

“I don’t ask for much. Because we spend a lot of time together during the year. We spend a lot of time together, but I give them a lot of freedom. We do more video at the moment, but it’s no more than 15 minutes.

“I give them a lot of freedom. They have a good time together and there is a good atmosphere. I don’t know what they do in the room and I don’t want to know.”

On whether he thinks about winning the ‘septet’ this season, having already won two titles, Ancelotti said:

“We don’t think about this. We take into account that there is something special in the summer. A Club World Cup. We think about doing well in every game and nothing else. The Club World Cup is a long way away.”

Dani Olmo can play for Barcelona tomorrow. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona have managed to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, at least temporarily via a precautionary measure from the Higher Sports Council (CSD).

A lot of clubs from La Liga and La Liga 2 have criticised the verdict but Real Madrid have been quiet about the matter.

On being asked what his thoughts would be if Olmo proved to be the protagonist for Barça tomorrow, Ancelotti said:

“It would happen that we have not been able to stop a very good player. Dani Olmo is going to play and we have to try to minimise his quality.”

The Real Madrid boss also spoke about the RMTV videos and whether they impact referees, saying:

“Gil Manzano is a good referee, with experience. He was referee of many important matches. And Real Madrid have the same opinion.”

Talking about winning the Spanish Super Cup in the middle of the season and the impact that it can have on the team, he added:

“It has value. Because statistically, when we have won the Super Cup, we have done very well. When we haven’t won it, we haven’t won the Champions League. It’s a competition that gives you motivation and dynamics.”

On whether he is prepared to accept a possible defeat tomorrow, Ancelotti said: “It is a game that cannot be predicted. We are clear about what we have to do to reduce the risk, but no one can predict the result. There are many things.

“What we can control is the performance of the match. I am convinced that tomorrow we will have a very good performance.”

On being asked if there will be any surprises from him in the starting XI tomorrow, Ancelotti stated: “No, there will be a stadium full of fans and we will enjoy a good game.”

Source: AS