Tag: Carlo Ancelotti

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Ancelotti: Real are delighted to depend on Benzema

Real Madrid should not be ashamed to be reliant upon talisman Karim Benzema, according to Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

France international Benzema has helped Madrid to the LaLiga summit, 12 points clear of Barcelona, who have played a game less.

The former Lyon striker also propelled the LaLiga giants into the ascendancy with his hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, he became the first player to score a treble against the Blues in European competition as he joined Cristiano Ronaldo, Luiz Adriano and Lionel Messi as the fourth player to manage consecutive hat-tricks in the Champions League following his heroics in the last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain.

Only Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (46) has found the net more times in Europe’s top-five leagues in all competitions than Benzema, who has 37 goals to his name in as many appearances.

Ancelotti heaped praise on his star forward as he fielded questions over whether potential transfer target Erling Haaland would be put off Madrid by Benzema’s exploits.

“What a question… I’m sorry, I can’t answer,” he said. 

“But I can say that Benzema is a modern centre-forward, in the past the number nine would get into the area and finish off whatever was going on there.

“Karim is what modern football demands in a striker, shooting, playing, defensive work, not giving away balls… It’s the perfect representation of what a centre forward should be today”.

Benzema and Vinicius Junior have formed a formidable partnership this campaign, with the duo combining for a competition-leading five goals in the Champions League.

Ancelotti referenced the likes of Los Blancos greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale as he pointed towards his new pairing as the stars of the show this season.

“The season says that there are two strikers who have stood out a lot, Vinicius and Benzema,” he added.

“In the past we had Cristiano, Bale… To say that we are dependent on Benzema is the truth, there is no need to hide it. I am very happy to be dependent on Benzema”.

Benzema has netted 11 times in the Champions League this campaign, the most by a Frenchman in Europe’s premier club competition and as many as he had scored in the previous two editions combined.

He will look to add to that tally at home to Chelsea on Tuesday as Ancelotti aims to qualify for an eighth Champions League semi-final – the joint-most of any coach in history, along with Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

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Real Madrid tired but very happy to reach Supercopa final

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said his players were “tired, but very happy” following their dramatic 3-2 Supercopa de Espana win over Barcelona.

Los Blancos advanced to the final after prevailing in a thrilling encounter at the King Fahd Stadium on Wednesday.

Madrid were twice pegged back, so the contest went into extra-time as strikes from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema were cancelled out by Luuk de Jong and Ansu Fati. 

But Ancelotti’s side edged their noses back in front through substitute Federico Valverde in the 98th minute, claiming their fifth successive win over Barca.

And the Italian saluted the efforts of his players, who must prepare to do battle against either Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao in Sunday’s final.

“I have to be honest, Barcelona played a good game,” he told Movistar.

“I don’t think Barcelona dominated us, they controlled the ball; we were very effective on the counter. It was an entertaining game.

“There was a good atmosphere in the stands and although it is not the most important title, it was an important game.

“The physical and mental effort was very big, but we held up well until the end. The changes helped; we are tired, but very happy. 

“The important thing is to be in the final, not the rival.”

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Ancelotti not too disheartened despite freak draw with lowly Cadiz

Carlo Ancelotti insisted nobody should be blamed after Real Madrid’s disappointing 0-0 draw at home to struggling Cadiz, applauding the performance even if the outcome was not as expected.

Madrid had been hoping to extend their winning run to eight league matches but failed to convert their superiority into goals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Los Blancos’ 36 shots amounted to 10 more than any other team have had in a single LaLiga match this season and the most since Madrid themselves had 37 attempts against Levante in April 2013.

Those shots equated to 2.8 expected goals (xG), meaning it was only the fourth time in the past decade that Madrid have failed to score in a LaLiga game despite registering at least 2.8 xG.

Cadiz defended valiantly, their 14 blocks being the most any team has recorded in a game since Opta began collecting this data (2005-06), somehow managing to leave the Santiago Bernabeu with at least a point for the second season in a row.

Yet, as frustrating as it would have been for his team to fail to beat 19th-placed Cadiz, Ancelotti looked on the bright side.

Speaking to Movistar, Ancelotti said: “I think we’ve tried in every way, but it has not turned out well.

“It didn’t work, but we tried, and therefore I don’t have to blame [anyone]. There are many positive things, the only thing that wasn’t positive was not having won the three points, but this is football.

“There are times you don’t deserve it and you win, and others you deserve it and you don’t win. They have played us with a set-up that always challenges us, but that’s the way it is.

“In the first half what we didn’t do well was breaking their back line, the intensity wasn’t very high. The second half was different, we created a lot of opportunities.

“The ball didn’t go in, but, personally, I’m happy. We tried, I don’t know what more we could do. We could have had more quality in the final metres, but I am not going to ask my team for more.”

Numerous Madrid players caught the eye but one of the most notable – even if he was not necessarily the standout star – was Eden Hazard.

The Belgian has been a massive disappointment since joining Madrid from Chelsea, with injuries playing a major role in disrupting him, but he looked bright at times on what was his first LaLiga start since September.

Hazard had three shots, his match-high 0.77 xG showing he was a threat, while he also played five key passes, the second most he has tallied in a league game for Madrid.

Ancelotti added: “It was difficult for him to get into the game, but in the second half he did very well with better combinations with the forwards.

“It is clear that Hazard can be one more weapon for us in the second half of the season.”

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Sergio Ramos asked Carlo Ancelotti to keep him at Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos unsuccessfully enlisted the help of Carlo Ancelotti during contract negotiations with Real Madrid, according to a report.

The 35-year-old ran down his Bernabeu deal last season and was unable to agree to fresh terms with the club, eventually leading him to complete a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ramos insisted at his farewell speech that he intended to stay in the Spanish capital, but Florentino Perez was only prepared to offer him a one-year extension rather than the two years he was holding out for.

According to Marca, Ramos spoke with Ancelotti upon the Italian’s return to the Bernabeu dugout in the hope that he would be able to ‘twist the arm’ of the 74-year-old.

However, Ancelotti reportedly told Ramos that he was unable to affect a situation which was beyond his control, and as a result Ramos gave a tearful farewell to the club he had represented for 16 years.

The centre-back left Real Madrid after scoring 101 goals in 671 games for the capital club, but a calf injury has prevented him from making his PSG debut this month.

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Carlo Ancelotti rules out Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid return

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that he has “never considered” bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Bernabeu.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s next career move remains the subject of much speculation, with his existing deal at Juventus due to expire in 2022 amid links with Los Blancos and Manchester United.

Ronaldo recently took to social media to lash out at the ‘disrespectful’ coverage of his future, and Ancelotti has also weighed in on the saga with a post on Twitter.

The 62-year-old wrote on Tuesday: “Cristiano is a Real Madrid legend and he has all my love and respect. I have never considered signing him. We look forward.#HalaMadrid.”

Manchester City are also rumoured to have been offered the chance to sign the Portuguese attacker, but Pep Guardiola’s side have retained their focus on a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

Ronaldo found the back of the net five times at Euro 2020 and enters the 2021-22 campaign with a Capocannoniere to defend following his 29-goal haul in Serie A last term.

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ANCELOTTI CONFIDENT AHEAD MERSEYSIDE DERBY.

September Barclays Manager of the Month Carlo Ancelotti says his Everton team head into next weekend’s Merseyside derby with the confidence to beat reigning champions Liverpool.

The Toffees will host their biggest rivals at Goodison Park on Saturday sitting top of the table, the position that Liverpool finished last season as the best team in the country.

But the tables have turned at the start of 2020/21 and Ancelotti wants his Premier League leaders to extend their 100 per cent start and move closer to their goal of European qualification.

“Our target is to reach Europe next season and to stay at the top for as long as possible,” said the Italian after winning the fifth Barclays Manager of the Month award of his career.

We are going to play against one of the best teams in the world.

“It doesn’t matter what happened last week [against Aston Villa]. They are still a fantastic team with a fantastic manager.

“It will be difficult, but we have confidence.”

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ANCELOTTI, CALVERT LEWIN BAG SEPTEMBER PREMIER LEAGUE AWARDS.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was named Premier League Manager of the Month for September and said their strong start to the season can be the ideal launch pad to push for a European spot.

Ancelotti’s side have set the early pace in the top flight with wins over Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace last month, before they defeated Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday to maintain their perfect start.

“The key was the first match at Tottenham. That victory increased our confidence. We worked well in the transfer market. We signed players we need… they’ve adapted really fast,” the Italian coach said in a Premier League statement here.

“Our target is to reach Europe next season and to stay at the top for as long as possible… We’ve started really well and we hope to continue it and to win this award again.”

It is the fifth time the 61-year-old has claimed the prize, with his four previous awards coming during his time at Chelsea.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 23, won the Player of the Month prize for September, marking the first time the Merseyside club have claimed both awards since Phil Jagielka and manager David Moyes did so in February 2009.

Calvert-Lewin, who scored on his England debut in Thursday’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wemmbley, netted five league goals last month and was also on the scoresheet versus Brighton.