Ancelotti: “We want to fight for all six titles”
Carlo Ancelotti was interviewed by UEFA’s official media, with the Italian coach speaking about the European Super Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt, Rüdiger and Tchouaméni, Real Madrid’s objectives for this season and more. Here’s his interview in full:
Fitness ahead of the first match
“We have a few more disadvantages than Eintracht, who start their season earlier, but we’ll play to win. We look forwards and not backwards. Last year’s victories reinforce what we believe in, but we need to focus on the upcoming matches. During this coming season, there are six titles at stake, and we want to fight for all of them.”
Thoughts on Frankfurt
“Last year, Eintracht achieved something special because they weren’t among the favourites. They played great games, winning against Barcelona at the Camp Nou by playing a counterattacking style of football, with huge attention to defence and high-speed transitions.”
Rüdiger and Tchouaméni
“I believe we’ve got two players who are among the best in the world in their respective roles. First of all, their quality increases the team’s physical and technical ability. Then there is the need to adapt to the group and the group adapting to them a bit. We must not forget that the three who left, Marcelo, Isco and Bale, have made history for this club in recent years, so the whole of Real Madrid is grateful to those players. We hope the newcomers can repeat the exploits of those who have left.”
Comebacks in the Champions League
“It’s a very fresh memory and there was also a very special chemistry with the supporters and the stadium. All the comebacks we made were achieved in our stadium, thanks to that boost which came from the stands.”
“Always believe, never give up. After all, we played against very strong teams. It was inevitable that we would suffer. We’re ready. The team is looking in great shape already. The joy and satisfaction you get after winning the Champions League final tends to stick around, making you feel like no one should ever take your place. That’s a pretty strong motivation to keep winning.”
La Décima and La Decimocuarta
“In 2014, La Décima was probably more predictable because the team had been close to achieving it so many times already. Gareth Bale had just joined us and we were favourites to win the title from the start. This year, we were anything but favourites, but we still managed to win, thanks to the great cohesion and quality of the team. I think the key factors were the humbleness and experience of the older players, complemented by the energy and enthusiasm of the younger ones.”
