“We'll keep fighting to win this league until the final match”, stated Real Madrid's manager in the press room.
Carlo Ancelotti appeared before the press the day before the match against Rayo. The Italian coach, who confirmed that “Cristiano Ronaldo will play” despite a niggle, discussed the league match in the Santiago Bernabéu: “We have to realise that Rayo play very well and that it is a very good example of how the small teams try to play good football. That adds value to the quality of La Liga. Tomorrow will be a difficult match because we need to win it, to respond well and also to demonstrate our wont to do things”.
“Each team has its own style of play and I really like Paco's style because it has its own clear identity. At the moment the teams' characteristics are different but our football also has its own clear identity”.
The current situation in La Liga
“We have not lost our hard work in these four days because we have done that well, what we have lost is the fact that the league depended on us. We are still confident because the defeats were not due to a problem in our game. We have conceded six goals and that means that we made mistakes that we have to avoid because now mistakes are expensive. We need to concentrate more”.
“La Liga will be decided on the last matchday. We're behind now, but we'll keep fighting to win the league until the final match. We'll certainly need more than 90 points to do it”.
The possibility of rotations
“Today we had a problem with Modric, who had a temperature last night, later we'll make a decision. Rotations are made if someone is tired. Now the important match is the one against Rayo and then we'll focus on the Champions League”.
“Each team has its own style of play and I really like Paco's style because it has its own clear identity. At the moment the teams' characteristics are different but our football also has its own clear identity”.
The current situation in La Liga
“We have not lost our hard work in these four days because we have done that well, what we have lost is the fact that the league depended on us. We are still confident because the defeats were not due to a problem in our game. We have conceded six goals and that means that we made mistakes that we have to avoid because now mistakes are expensive. We need to concentrate more”.
“La Liga will be decided on the last matchday. We're behind now, but we'll keep fighting to win the league until the final match. We'll certainly need more than 90 points to do it”.
The possibility of rotations
“Today we had a problem with Modric, who had a temperature last night, later we'll make a decision. Rotations are made if someone is tired. Now the important match is the one against Rayo and then we'll focus on the Champions League”.
“WE NEED TO CONENTRATE MORE ON EVERYTHING”.
“It is clear that we've lost defensive strength. We have conceded six goals in two games. We made small mistakes and they have cost us dearly now. We need to concentrate more on everything. There were problems with positioning, above all for the goals. They were positioning errors not concentration errors”.
Cristiano Ronaldo's niggle
“He has a slight niggle, but it will not affect him at all. He is training normally and treating it. He'll play tomorrow. Today he trained well and he has no problem whatsoever”.
“He doesn't need to rest now because he is handling the problem well. He is confident and does not let these things get him down. If things improve we'll rest him, but now all of us and the player are very relaxed. It is a small problem that will be resolved with treatment”.
Free-kicks and Bale's change of boots
“First is Cristiano Ronaldo and then Bale. When Bale takes a free-kick it means that Cristiano Ronaldo agrees. He couldn't keep on playing with his boots like that and he changed them. He's physically fine and he feels fine”.
Xabi Alonso's fitness
“The last two matches were not great, but he is always an important player. He is comfortable and fit. Perhaps he made mistakes in the last two matches and he will rest when he needs to rest. The two defeats in a row were not due to a fitness issue because we were physically fine throughout”.
Diego López or Casillas
“It's an issue we've spoken about before and the situation's very clear. Diego López is doing well, like Iker when he's played. Tomorrow Diego López will play and Casillas on Wednesday. It is a debate for outsiders, not one for us here”.
Changes in the Sánchez Pizjuán
“The change we made was to add some quality. We bought Isco on just at the right time. Putting Morata on would have meant changing the system too much at that time. With Isco on the field and that change the team would lose more balance”.
Mourinho's statements
“It's his opinion. I think that Real Madrid is fighting for La Liga this season, something it was unable to do last year. Let's just say that”.
Cristiano Ronaldo's niggle
“He has a slight niggle, but it will not affect him at all. He is training normally and treating it. He'll play tomorrow. Today he trained well and he has no problem whatsoever”.
“He doesn't need to rest now because he is handling the problem well. He is confident and does not let these things get him down. If things improve we'll rest him, but now all of us and the player are very relaxed. It is a small problem that will be resolved with treatment”.
Free-kicks and Bale's change of boots
“First is Cristiano Ronaldo and then Bale. When Bale takes a free-kick it means that Cristiano Ronaldo agrees. He couldn't keep on playing with his boots like that and he changed them. He's physically fine and he feels fine”.
Xabi Alonso's fitness
“The last two matches were not great, but he is always an important player. He is comfortable and fit. Perhaps he made mistakes in the last two matches and he will rest when he needs to rest. The two defeats in a row were not due to a fitness issue because we were physically fine throughout”.
Diego López or Casillas
“It's an issue we've spoken about before and the situation's very clear. Diego López is doing well, like Iker when he's played. Tomorrow Diego López will play and Casillas on Wednesday. It is a debate for outsiders, not one for us here”.
Changes in the Sánchez Pizjuán
“The change we made was to add some quality. We bought Isco on just at the right time. Putting Morata on would have meant changing the system too much at that time. With Isco on the field and that change the team would lose more balance”.
Mourinho's statements
“It's his opinion. I think that Real Madrid is fighting for La Liga this season, something it was unable to do last year. Let's just say that”.
