Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is excited about the challenges that lie in wait as Los Blancos search for success on three fronts.
The Italian watched he side beat Schalke 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last night to run out 9-2 winners overall in the two-legged affair and progress easily to the last eight of the Champions League. The side also tops the La Liga table and host Barcelona on Sunday night in the league while they face the same opponents in the Copa del Rey final next month.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti said his team was on the right path, and he was excited about what lies in store. “I think that, in general, we are very excited about this team. We have improved a lot. The atmosphere is good and healthy. We are very excited and motivated. We are in all the competitions.,” he stated.
He briefly discussed the situation in the Champions League before switching his attention to the Clasico on Sunday. “Europe’s best teams have qualified so it will be very complicated for everyone. It is good for Spanish football to have three teams still in the competition,” he said before adding “We have to play our best football because to beat Barcelona you have to play at 100%. Yes, of course I have decided on the eleven. I don’t think it is difficult. I am not going to complicate things. I’ll make it easy for everyone.”
However, it was not all positive on the night for Los Blancos, as they lost Jese Rodriguez to injury for the next six months after the youngster snapped his anterior cruciate ligament.
Ancelotti admitted the players were down in the dressing room at hearing the seriousness of the injury, but would rally round and support their teammate.
He commented: “We hope to have him ready soon and we would like to send him our support. We are waiting for him and we wish him luck. He will certainly be an important player for Real Madrid after his injury. We are sad. We are very sorry about this, but these things happen in football. It could be an important time for him, to enjoy this time of difficulty and build his character.”
