[Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday night’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad and answered many questions, including some on Endrick, of whom he said, “I keep him in mind. It depends on many things. Beyond the competition, he lacks nothing. It’s a problem of competition. There are players of extreme quality. I think the history of this club says that many first-team players have had to be on the bench for a long time. Vinícius, a couple of years, Rodrygo, Valverde, Camavinga. If you want to be at Real Madrid it’s customary to put up with being on the bench.”
### **Ancelotti on the team’s feelings ahead of the game**
“We are good. Motivated and in good shape. We have the illusion of getting into another final. We would love to. The Cup went well for us and we want to repeat.”
### **Ancelotti on what’s changed since he played**
“There wasn’t this wear and tear. It was another sport, another football. Not only in terms of wear and tear, but also in terms of preparation, in terms of injuries. We have to manage this in the hope of having more time to recover better, to prepare better for the matches... This season will be very demanding. We have managed it well considering the serious injuries that we cannot recover until the end.”
### **Ancelotti on if Lunin would play in a potential final**
“Yes... It remains to be seen. Lunin can play, Courtois can play and if they are injured, Fran González plays. And if we don’t reach the final, none of the three will play.”
### **Ancelotti on whether he worries about Endrick and if he could start**
“Who is worried, I don’t know, I’m delighted with him. When I can I’ve given him minutes and he’s always taken advantage of it. Who’s worried? I don’t know. Tomorrow he may have a chance.”
### **Ancelotti on Mendy’s injury**
“Fran is contributing a lot. Mendy and Ceballos are trying to get to the match against Arsenal.”
### **Ancelotti on whether Mbappé can be the best ever**
“It’s difficult. What I can advise Mbappé is to be able to achieve what Cristiano has achieved at Real Madrid. He has the opportunity. That means he would be a legend like Cristiano.”
### **Ancelotti on comparisons with Barcelona**
“No, everyone has their own opinion and likes possession, the long ball, fighting for the second ball? There are many facets and everyone can say what they like more or less.”
### **Ancelotti on whether Alaba will start**
“Alaba is doing very well. He has played with Austria. But to put him in two matches every three days can be a risk. Against Real he has more options. Those who didn’t start against Leganés have more chances of making the line-up.”
### **Ancelotti on possibly being the first coach to win three Copa del Rey titles with Real Madrid**
“Being close motivates the players, me, the club. I am more motivated in this sense. It’s an achievement to play in the final of any competition. The fact that we have a small advantage and our fans, it motivates us more.”
### **Ancelotti on Enzo Alves**
“He has played little, but he has made a difference. I don’t know him very well. I know him because we took pictures of each other when he was little. I have a very nice memory with him in the 2014 final that I took a photo with Marcelo’s son and Xabi Alonso’s son. It’s perfect to take this photo now. The whole club is very excited about him. If he has the quality of his father, bingo!”
### **Ancelotti on how Barcelona play**
“Barcelona plays very nice football, Madrid plays a different kind of footballwith a lot of quality. I love Madrid and how Barcelona plays. You can compare using the same phase, but it is difficult to compare the style of play of two teams because it depends a lot on the players. Madrid has different characteristics than Barcelona. You can say, Barcelona plays very well and Madrid plays very badly. I love the way Real Madrid plays. I’ve loved it for three years now. There are seasons that are more or less complicated. It changes. You don’t always have the same structure. The players change and that’s why it’s impossible to change that well-defined identity. Whoever tries to have the same identity all the time, fails in the end.”
### **Ancelotti on small winning margins in recent weeks**
“Because the matches are competitive. I’ve seen that we’ve been very effective up front. We are less solid than last year, but more effective up front. We’ve had some very important injuries at the back and we’ve lost solidity.”
### **Ancelotti on having to motivate the players**
“It’s very difficult for me. I talk about it a lot to keep them motivated, focused, but it’s almost impossible. We try to do it. This schedule is very tiring and more complicated. We have done quite well. This is a characteristic of the team. Everyone is different mentally. There are some players who are always focused and some who find it a bit more difficult.”
### **Ancelotti on refereeing controversies**
“There have been three games that have cost us a lot of points. I understand the complaint about an unclear situation from Leganés just like us. I have nothing more to add.”
### **Ancelotti on expanding his coaching team**
“I think it is quite small. The coaching staff, I have two assistants, a group of analysts, the goalkeeping coach. We are thinking about it. The biggest problem with the schedule is not having time to prepare for the matches. That work on the field is much reduced. Expanding the coaching staff to maintain the same work on the field is not necessary. It could be expanded because there are many young players and with them you can do more specific individual work.”
### **Ancelotti on Real Sociedad having 24 hours more rest**
“I looked, yes. Really, I haven’t contemplated it. If we don’t play the final, the problem is over. It’s not so important to have one day more or less. The most important thing is to have the minimum of rest which is three days.”