Real Madrid emphatically earned a 3-0 victory against Elche in La Liga despite the visitors putting in a brilliant defensive performance that prevented Los Blancos from displaying their best game.
That has given the team a moral boost ahead of the first leg of the Champions League last-16 round against Schalke 04 on Wednesday.
Defender Daniel Carvajal confessed “this result gives us confidence, another 3-0.” “Wednesday we’ll have a tough game because Schalke is going to play very tight and will try not to concede a goal. We’ll do our best and try to win,” he added.
When asked about the subsequent game next weekend against Atletico Madrid, Carvajal said: “We’re not thinking about the league or the derby right now; Schalke comes first.”
Raphael Varane also spoke about the Gelsenkirchen clash. “The Champions League is one of our objectives; it is a very special competition for the club and we are really looking forward to this match,” the Frenchman stated.
The young centre-back confessed he’s not going to play on Wednesday, since he’s only playing a game a week to protect his knee from farther injuries. “Soon we’re going to make it two a week. My knee isn’t swelling up. I’m fine and my fitness is improving,” he admitted.
When asked about the line-up he will display in Germany, Carlo Ancelotti said: “We’ll look at how Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao are and then we will send out the best possible team. The players who don’t play on Wednesday will play next weekend against Atletico,” he told reporters.
