Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said his players will give everything to win the Copa del Rey.
Los Blancos take on Barcelona in Valencia on Wenesday evening, the seventh time the two teams have contested the Copa del Rey final. Ancelotti, who is aiming for his first piece of silverware since taking over at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, said there is no other option other than to go all out for the win and leave everything on the pitch.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the match, the Italian said: “When you play in a final you cannot lose and we have to do everything to win it. In a final anything can happen and we hope to be the best.”
He called on his players to put in a performance similar to the last Clasico encounter last month, but to cut out defensive errors. The nine-time European Cup winners put in a much better showing that at the Nou Camp in October, although they still lost 4-3 at the Bernabeu.
“In the second game in the Bernabéu we played very well. We competed well, we were winning and we made small mistakes. We have to concentrate throughout the match. I’m very happy with the second match against Barcelona and we have to do this throughout the 90 minutes. We’ve looked at the defensive errors we’ve made and we have worked towards eradicating them for tomorrow,” Ancelotti stated.
When asked about any injury updates and team news, he revealed Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit for the game – which was widely expected anyway.
“This morning I found out that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be there. We’re missing a lot of players but I think we can play very well. We’re losing a player of enormous quality. But the team has always responded well when Ronaldo is out, which motivates everyone,” he told reporters gathered in the press room.
