Ancelotti: "The derby is always a special game"

Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City and discussed the matchday 23 LaLiga clash for the Madrid derby which will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium (Saturday, 9 pm CET): “It's a very important match for two teams fighting to win the league. The (Madrid) derby is a special match, as always. Atlético are strong and it'll be an even match. There is nothing new in the run-up to the game. The opposition have all the quality they need to fight for this competition, just like us.”

“We had some doubts regarding the line-up that have been resolved today with the issue of Lucas and Camavinga. I'm going to field a line-up where I can combine quality and collective commitment. The two things are what lead to success during the season and the trick is to combine them. This season we've had more quality than commitment and we're working to equal that.”

On managing pressure of the derby
“It's a tough game but these are the games we like to be involved in. There's a lot of pressure, but it's a match that everyone is going to watch. It'll be very competitive and a spectacle of football where we'll be the protagonists. We have to dig in and fight for the team. These are the games you have to celebrate or endure a bit of suffering when they are over.”

Importance of securing three points
“We need three points because they're very important for the league. We haven't been at our best in the games against strong opponents.”

Preparation for the derby
“Those who played in the cup match yesterday did some recovery work with a bit of gym work and swimming. Those who didn't play did intensity work. Today we did some tactical work. Tomorrow we'll watch the videos, today we watched the videos about the opposition and tomorrow I'll propose the strategy to the players. This evening we can watch TV to relax.”

Tebas’ comments
“Before such an important match I wouldn't like to discuss this issue. Tebas can rest assured that nobody has lost his head. We've asked for an explanation of what happened in order to improve the system. From what I hear, not everyone is happy. They say that the system favours Madrid, but when Madrid wants to change it, they reject it.”

VAR audio recordings from Espanyol game
“We haven't received them and I don't know why they don't want to give them to us. We'll have to ask them. We have requested the audio recordings. On some occasions they have released them and on others they haven't. We haven't asked for something that is secret. It is a situation where we want to know how it has been handled. There is nothing perverse about it.”

Collective commitment
“The defensive aspect provides solidity to the team. When the forwards aren't on target, you can get a good result. Offensively we've done very well and the four forwards have scored more than 60 goals. Obviously, defensive solidity is a collective effort. We're in an emergency situation and the team needs the defensive help of the four forwards who have scored more than 60 goals.”

Defensive help from forwards
“It's not a problem of the front four. We have to fix when we press and when we drop off as a unit. It's a mindset and we want to correct it, especially in this kind of game. Tomorrow is very important because we're playing against one of the best teams when it comes to this aspect.”

Managing an emergency situation
“At times the team has lacked balance. Some people think that replacing a forward can solve the problem, but that's not the case. The defensive problem is a collective problem. It's a problem of the forwards, midfielders and defenders. Many people forget that we have an emergency situation with the defence. We lost Carvajal, the best right-back in the world, and we lost Militão. Despite that, we've managed to get good results. We're still in the fight for all competitions and we're not far from the end of the season. We have a short-term emergency because Rüdiger and Alaba will be back soon.”

Watch all the videos from the game on RM Play

“We've been missing some very important defenders at this stage of the season. Carvajal and Militão got injured very early on. Despite this situation, we've remedied it by bringing in young players from the youth system. We've also changed the position of Tchouameni and Valverde. Hopefully, things will be back to normal. I'd like to bring back Tchouameni as a pivot, Valverde as an inside player, Militão and Alaba as centre-backs and Carvajal as a right-back. Not everything is fixed, but we've picked up some results. That's why we're leaders.”

Valverde’s versatility
“We’re concerned about players getting injured. Valverde always wants to play. Because of the absentees we have, I put him as a pivot or at right-back. This happened in the cup game because Lucas had a slight problem.”

Mbappé and his importance to the team
“He has arrived in good form and humbly.  He's never requested where to play, when to take a penalty or a free-kick. He needed time to adapt to the team and to his characteristics. However, the data is there because he's scored 22 goals. He's doing very well, as everybody expected he would.”

Ceballos’ form
“Ceballos has taken more responsibility because he's a player who manages the ball and the tempo of the game very well. He works hard and is always involved offensively and defensively. He's had more prominence than in previous years because he's in good condition. He's had the opportunity to play without problems and to improve his physical condition.”

Youth team players
“Asencio is a pessimist and has a promising future. I didn't evaluate him very well because I put in a lot of new players. Jacobo is also a pessimist.”

Rodrygo’s role
“Rodrygo has played an important role in the 60 goals and in helping the team. He's a player with a lot of quality, like the others. To look for a balance I don't have to remove one, two, three or four forwards. I can look for more balance by taking away the four and putting in four other midfielders. They would press more but they would not be able to score 60 goals.”

Atlético’s tweet
“I don't follow social media. I don't know about the pressure because Madrid want to change a system they don't like.”

On social media
“I'm from the old generation, pen and paper. I'm not very technological. Sometimes social media brings out arguments and debates that make little sense. In my opinion, networks are invisible. If Fernando Burgos criticises me, it is Fernando Burgos who does it. On social media, he's someone I don't see and don't know. I prefer not to look at him because if I'm criticised I like to see the face of the person who does it.”

Sergio Ramos and Mexico
“I don't know why he took the number 93. Sergio is a club legend. Those of us who have been lucky enough to coach him and share many moments with him wish him the best of luck. The Mexican people are going to enjoy watching him.”