Ancelotti talks Mbappe, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kroos ahead of Mallorca vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid will begin the defence of their La Liga crown on Sunday night when they take on RCD Mallorca away at Son Moix.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men already started their season earlier this week when they defeated Atalanta 2-0 to lift the UEFA Super Cup.

The reigning champions of Spain and Europe will be hoping to build on that momentum and make a winning start to their league campaign as they hope to win consecutive La Liga titles for the first time in over 15 years.

On the eve of the match, manager Ancelotti addressed the media in his customary pre-match press conference, discussing various topics ranging from rotations to the team’s objectives.

On tomorrow’s game and season objectives

“Tomorrow the league starts, with all the hope of retaining the title. Another coach has arrived there [at Mallorca], very experienced and very capable. We’ll have to fight to win,” said Ancelotti to kick things off.

Real Madrid will be competing in seven competitions in total this season, one of which is out of the way already with them winning the UEFA Super Cup. On whether there are expectations on them to lift all the remaining six titles, the manager said:

“We still don’t know how many competitions we have to play, there are two (Club World Cup and Intercontinental) that are not clear. But we are going to compete in everything we can, in every game.

“Nobody here is talking about the septet, we are talking about the games we have to play. Above all, tomorrow’s match. There is no other way of thinking. The calendar demands this. With this squad, we can certainly compete for everything.”

One in, six more to go. (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

When further probed about whether winning the septet is the main objective for them this season, Ancelotti replied:

“We think about reality, especially the players, they’re the ones who are going to play the games. And they know when it’s difficult to win. A match demands quality, sacrifice, thinking too far ahead is not good for anything.

“Obviously, we can’t think about what will happen in May, we have to work every day to get to May and win every game.”

Ancelotti also complained about the long season and the fixture pile-up, expressing concerns about the well-being of players, as he said:

“We’re not thinking about 25-26, it might start earlier because of the World Cup, but we’re in this season. The players need rest, they need holidays, we are thinking about giving individual holidays to the players.

“A player can not play for a week and go and rest with his family, especially international players, who have very little rest. They don’t even get a day’s holiday. We are evaluating it with the medical staff and the physical preparation.”

On the squad

Coming into the season, there has been a lot of talk surrounding Rodrygo and his status at Real Madrid now that they have added Kylian Mbappe to the squad.

But Ancelotti was full of praise for the Brazilian and highlighted the work he did against Atalanta in Warsaw this week, saying:

“He brings a lot, in Warsaw when we went 4-4-2 he works a lot with the midfield. He has to focus on that work, he does it very well, the data says he brings a lot, in defence and in attack.”

The Real Madrid boss also shed some light on the position of Jude Bellingham, who is now having to play a slightly deeper role with Ancelotti switching to a 4-3-3 formation.

“Bellingham’s position hasn’t changed, in the centre on the left. Sometimes he goes deep to bring the ball out. But in attack it’s the same,” the manager remarked.

The Italian also touched upon Mbappe and how he has already settled in well with his new teammates, saying:

“With all the new players, the people at the club try to make them feel comfortable. An extraordinary talent has arrived, we have to help him adapt. He’s come into the dressing room very well, with humility, very earnest. He’s started very well.”

Mbappe has started off well at Real Madrid. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

On the possibility of rotations for tomorrow’s lineup, he added: “I have to decide on tomorrow’s team, maybe there will be some changes, maybe not.”

When asked how Real Madrid are dealing with the retirement of Toni Kroos, he said: “The first game went well, we will always miss Kroos, he was a special player. Looking for another one is impossible, we have to adapt.

“It’s not bad, if you get used to it too much it’s not good. It’s good for the players to have to think.”

Ancelotti also reiterated again that Real Madrid will not sign any players and that he is happy with the number of defenders he has, saying:

“The squad is closed, we have to wait until the market closes. We think Alaba will come back well. And we have young players who can play. We have been unlucky with Joan’s injury. Asencio and Jacobo can contribute.”

The Real Madrid boss also touched upon the competition in La Liga heading into the new season, saying:

“We have to fight for the league title with all the teams, the quality of Spanish football is evident. It is quality football. Barcelona, Atleti, who have strengthened well? We have to fight for everything, that’s how it will be.

“It will be a fun league, the first matches have been very good, with a lot of play, few fouls, few interruptions. We’ve started well and we have to continue in this vein. And the semi-automatic offside makes the refereeing a little clearer, it will help us a lot.”

Source: AS