Carlo Ancelotti has urged his team to play with the same intensity against Villarreal today as they did in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg if they are to get anything from the match.
Los Blancos drew 2-2 with the Yellow Submarine earlier on in the season, a Gareth Bale debut goal helping Real to a point. And Madrid boss Ancelotti is expecting a tough match again at the Santiago Bernabeu against the side lying fifth in La Liga.
At his press conference on Friday, the former AC Milan, PSG and Chelsea boss called on his team to play at the same level they did on Wednesday when they thrashed city rivals Atletico de Madrid 3-0 to all but book their place in the final of the Copa del Rey.
He stated: “Villarreal are a very good team. We were put under a lot of pressure in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. We worked very hard on Wednesday in a game of high intensity, and to win tomorrow, we need more of the same. Maximum intensity and maximum concentration.”
Having already played down reports of Gareth Bale’s injury earlier this week, Ancelotti once again confirmed the Welshman is fine and will take part in the match today, especially with Ronaldo suspended.
“He will play from the start tomorrow; he is fit. He has no problems and is fit to play. He will be ready to perform. I always tell the truth. When I don’t need to tell the truth, I don’t say anything. When I say Bale is fit, it means that Bale is fit. When I say that Bale’s absence from Wednesday’s match was to prevent a recurrence of his injury, that is the truth,” Ancelotti said.
