Ancelotti: "We have all the resources we need to turn this tie around"
"The fans will be very important, their support has helped us a lot in recent years," said the coach.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media the day before the clash against Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabéu, the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals (Wednesday, 9 pm CEST): “The fans will be very important. On many occasions, their encouragement has helped us a lot. Especially in recent years. Tomorrow it will be the same. We need to perform at our best to try to turn around a tie that is very complicated right now.”
“We want to try to change our mindset and put on a solid performance. With our heads, our hearts and our courage. As Alcaraz says. Let's hope it's like that. The team is motivated and eager. In terms of commitment and mentally we're in good shape. A cool head is going to be very important to get a good control of the match.”
Resources
“Real Madrid has all the resources we need to turn this tie around. We have the quality, commitment, the experience of many players and we have the fans. We have the resources, we just have to get the best out of each player. In previous years they didn't say we played spectacular football either, which may be true. More than just spectacular, we want to play effective football.”
Does his future depend on tomorrow’s game?
“I don’t think so.”
On his pre-match talk
“What I want to do is to explain to the players with clarity the strategy of the game. We're going to try something in training and I want the players to go onto the pitch with very clear ideas. I'm going to try to explain it as clearly as possible. If a player has clarity, he's able to give a better individual performance.”
Strategy
“We'll try to play with a lot of intensity, trying to press and be more in control than we were in the first leg. No magic, because magic doesn't exist.”
How does he motivate the players?
“Yesterday, I spoke to you about the emotional aspect and motivation. About how a professional has to experience the build-up to these matches. I want the players to be calm and confident to try everything. We don't know if we can get this result, but the only certainty we have is that we're going to give our best.”
On the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabéu
“This atmosphere has helped us a lot and it will do so again. It's the same pitch and the colour of the grass is the same, but there's an atmosphere around us that drives you on.”
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Experience of both teams
“I'd say Arsenal are very well organised. Admittedly, they are not the most experienced, but Arteta is working very well with them and they have a very clear idea offensively and defensively. They're more focused on what they have to do than what is on the outside.”
Do you need players who can run or make a difference?
“Tomorrow we need to make a good connection between the quality we have and producing a complete performance in terms of physicality and collective attitude. Then the Bernabéu has magic and everyone knows it's a special atmosphere. None of these things can go wrong if we want to turn it around.”
Keeping a cool head
“For me, it's not the first game at this level and I hope it won't be the last because it's a very special competition for me. I'm looking forward to being involved from the bench in these games. That enthusiasm allows me to keep a cool head.”
On Mbappé
“He was hurt and disappointed by what happened in Vitoria. He trained very well yesterday. He's very motivated and we obviously need him. He has to score goals. He has scored a lot this season, but tomorrow we need them more than ever.”
Scoring early
“I don't think it's definitive, although it's an important part of our game. The most important thing is to be in good control and try to do our best from the start. When you have good control of the game you can score at any moment.”