Real Madrid will be gunning for their second trophy of the season when they take on CF Pachuca in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday in Qatar.
The Merengues have had an up-and-down season so far, with injuries and poor results leading to immense pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.
As such, tomorrow’s game provides Real Madrid with an opportunity to alleviate some of that pressure by adding another trophy to their cabinet.
Ancelotti addressed the media on the eve of the game, as he stands on the brink of history, set to become the most successful manager in Real Madrid history if he wins the trophy tomorrow.
“We’re very excited; if we’re here it’s because we’ve done very well. It’s a gift for us and for Pachuca, who have sweated two knockout rounds already,” he said.
“We are better than we were a month ago. And it’s a unique match, a unique opportunity. We’re in great spirits, excited and full of enthusiasm. We want to bring the Intercontinental Cup to Madrid.”
On the prospect of going past Miguel Munoz to become the most successful manager in the club’s history, Ancelotti remarked:
“It’s something important, of course. To achieve this success. It’s a sign that I’ve done a good job, that I’ve done a good job, I think I’ve done a good job. But I want to continue.
“It’s an honour to be compared to Miguel Munoz and the other coaches who have had the good fortune to manage the biggest club in the world.”
Answering the big question – whether Kylian Mbappe will be available for Real Madrid tomorrow or not – Ancelotti said:
“It’s simple: yesterday he trained well, he had a good feeling. He did sprints and everything went well. Today’s is an important training session, where we will evaluate the sensations and the risk.
“If he’s fine, talking to the doctors, he’ll play. If there is a minimum risk, obviously not. But the sensations yesterday were very good. We are optimistic.”
About Mbappe’s slow start to life at Real Madrid and whether he is playing in his best position at the club, the manager remarked:
“Kylian is a fantastic player and, honestly, I don’t think he’s at his best yet. In the last few games he has improved, but he’s not at his best, yet.
“He can play in any position: forward, left-wing… wherever you put him. With the quality he has, he can play wherever he wants.”
Mbappe could be ready for tomorrow. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Addressing the reports that Vinicius Jr. has won FIFA’s The Best Player of the Year award, Ancelotti said:
“He deserves it. He’s a fantastic player and it would be a fair award after what he did in 2024. I hope he wins it.”
There have been speculations that Ancelotti has lost control of things at Real Madrid of late, which has shown in the team’s poor performance. When asked about it, the Italian laughed off the suggestion, saying:
“You ask me if I have lost control (laughs). That’s a tough question. I haven’t lost it, of course not. In football you go through difficult moments, it has always happened. Sometimes they come in October-November and sometimes in April-May.
“The important thing is to be there, to keep going. If it happens in October-November, you can still salvage it and we are doing that. I am sure we will be very competitive in the second part of the season. I can assure you that I have not lost control.”
On whether a meeting to finalise the club’s transfer plans for the January window has already taken place, the legendary manager said:
“No, not yet. For now, we want to get to Christmas. We will try to win this game, Sevilla and then rest, because the team needs it. And in January we will evaluate.”
Talking about the criticism he has faced this season and whether he would be better without being in the line of fire so much, Ancelotti stated:
“No, criticism is acceptable. It’s part of my job. I’ve already said that what bothers me is personal criticism, not sporting criticism. Because I don’t always do things right, although I try. We all make mistakes sometimes.
“And criticism sometimes wakes you up. It’s an important part of my job; the coach is always criticised. There hasn’t been a single coach in the history of football who hasn’t been criticised. You have to understand that.”
Opening up on why the team has struggled to get off to a good start this season, he explained: “We changed a few things compared to last season: we lost balance, some injuries… and that deprived us of our best level. That’s normal when changes happen.
“You have to change the system, the strategy, adapt. It’s nothing new in football. I’m not happy, but I’m satisfied. We have improved, we have gone through difficult moments and, when this happens, the team becomes stronger.”
On whether he understands the amount of criticism that Real Madrid have faced this season, the Italian stated:
“As I said before: I understand it. Real Madrid came from winning La Liga and Champions League last year… and in the summer they signed the best player in the world. So everyone thought it would be a walkover.
“And football is not a walkover, but fighting and fighting every game. We can’t control the results, because sometimes you deserve to win and lose… or lose and win.
“But the criticism starts from there, from the fact that we were coming from a fantastic season and the best player in the world arrived. So, 1+1 is 2. But it’s not always 2 in football.”
On being asked if he was nervous heading into tomorrow’s final, Ancelotti replied: “Every game is a trap. Pachuca are a team that have got this far and that’s because they have something.
“They are an opponent that deserves our respect, because of who they are and their quality. A final is always exciting, it’s a special feeling. Before the match you worry, you think about every possible aspect. But I have confidence in the team.”
Further discussing his opponents for tomorrow, Ancelotti added: “We have seen the game against Botafogo and the semi-final against Al Ahly, they have their characteristics and, of course, for them it will be a very important game.
“They have players we know, like Rondon and good young players. They are dynamic, they push. It will be an entertaining duel.”
Source: AS