Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated Los Blancos have “a great chance” as they face Granada on Saturday with the possibility of reaching the top of the table in La Liga, as leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid won’t play until Sunday.
“It would feel good to go to bed being leaders, it means we’re doing things well,” the admitted. “Leading the table for a night after having trailed Barcelona for six points could have an impact on the rest of the season,” he added.
Nevertheless, the Italian warned on Granada’s danger. “They’re doing very well, they’ve earned good results in the last games and they’re in a good state of shape. We need to be careful, because all the teams that come to the Santiago Bernabeu always try special things,” he said.
When asked about the improvement of Real Madrid’s defence -they’ve had six clean sheets so far in 2014- Ancelotti explained he “would like to think that what has improved is team work, rather that only defence.”
“After Christmas, the players are working harder for each other on the defensive side of their game and that’s positive for us. We’ve kept our good offensive level, scoring goals, and our solid defence has blocked the rivals,” he argued.
Ancelotti also revealed some of the players that will start against Granada: “Di Maria will start, he’s doing well and I’ll line-up Xabi Alonso, Modric and him again in midfield. Varane has started training normally, but he’s not in the squad because he needs to work more with the team. Carvajal will also start.”
Speaking about the right-back position, Ancelotti explained “there’s no particular reason to line-up Arbeloa or Carvajal, because I trust both and they’re both playing well.”
Regarding Isco’s lack of minutes in the last matches, Los Merengues’ boss admitted “the new system doesn’t give him many chances. He’s played as a ‘false striker’ in one game, but that’s not an appropriate solution. At this moment I’m very confident with this system, but it might change in the future.”
