Ancelotti talks Valverde, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Modric, Camavinga ahead of Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be hoping to get back to winning ways in La Liga when they take on Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening.

The Merengues fell to a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis last time out in the league, allowing Barcelona to open up a three-point lead at the top.

With the Catalans in action later tonight, they might have a six-point advantage over Real Madrid by the time the champions take the field tomorrow against Rayo.

Ahead of the match, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media in his pre-match press conference, discussing various topics including Federico Valverde’s situation and role in the team.

Starting things off, the Italian tactician discussed the challenge that Rayo Vallecano will pose tomorrow, saying:

“Rayo are doing very well. They are well organised, intense, they are going to demand a duel from us. We have to stay in the fight. Getting points is vital. We are doing well. We’ve had time to recover well since Tuesday, hopefully we’ll have a good game.”

On his recent comment about wanting to be a ‘fly on the wall’ to spy on players when he is not playing them, Ancelotti explained:

“I would like to have all the information, but I have a clear idea of what they think. It’s part of my job to understand what they think. The relationship is very important, as well as the personal one.”

Stressing on the importance of having balance in the team and not focusing on individuals, the Real Madrid boss said:

“I don’t assess every game, sometimes one player stands out more, sometimes another one… I want to be focused on the team.

“Sometimes it affects someone individually, but for me it’s important that the whole team works well, in attack and defence. There is no envy in the team, if one player stands out more the others are happy. That’s important.”

Ancelotti then confirmed that Valverde was in a much better shape physically while also reiterating that the Uruguayan’s future will be in midfield despite his recent success as a makeshift right-back.

“He’s fine, he’s available. He wasn’t fit enough against Atleti, but he has improved and is in good condition. He can play, I know where he likes to play less, as a right winger. He likes to play as a pivot or interior and also as a full-back.

“In the future he will be one of the best, or he already is, he is the best midfielder in the world, the best full-back…. But his future is going to be in midfield.”

Valverde has impressed at right-back. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Ancelotti also briefly touched on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who is celebrating his 78th birthday today, saying:

“I wished him well, I told him to enjoy the day. What he wants is for the team to do well, he’s not asking me for anything special. The present we can give him is to win tomorrow or hopefully something bigger at the end of the season.”

On the defeat against Real Betis last weekend and how it angered him, Ancelotti noted: “I was disappointed with the game, I thought the team was in a good moment, I didn’t expect that downturn. But it was isolated.

“I don’t think players pick and choose games, I think in such a demanding season the wear and tear is very high. Sometimes you can think that you’re not at 100% in every game. The dynamic was good and we reacted well. We’re back on the right track.”

Giving an insight into the team mentality at this stage of the season, he added:

“We are ready to fight every game, taking into account the wear and tear. I’m more relaxed for tomorrow, we’ve had five days rest. For Betis we had much less, on a physical and mental level it’s more difficult. We have to take that into account.

“We’re very close, the situation isn’t ideal, but we’re very close to a cup final, the league lead, the Champions League quarter-finals? It’s not ideal, that would be to be leaders in La Liga, but we are very close and ready to fight.”

Eduardo Camavinga has found it hard this season, struggling almost each time he has played, leading to speculations about his future at Real Madrid. Ancelotti, though, offered the youngster his full support, saying:

“He hasn’t had continuity, he has had important injuries. He’s been out for three and a half months, that makes it harder to get continuity.

“Now he is improving little by little, in the last few games he has had back pains that didn’t allow him to play at 100%. He’s held out because of the team’s need, he’ll be back to his best.”

Ancelotti also spoke about Kylian Mbappe and his dip in form since the hat-trick against Manchester City last month, saying:

“Against Atleti he didn’t do what he did against City. On a general level he’s doing very well, we’re very happy with him. We have to keep in mind that he’s not always at his best.

“The season is demanding, it’s normal, especially in quality players, they have more ups and downs, it’s something genetic. He is doing very well. If we’re in the last 16 of the Champions League, it’s a lot because of him, he scored four goals in the play-offs.”

Further highlighting Valverde’s value to the team, Ancelotti stated: “Either you run or you make the difference. If you don’t run or make the difference, it’s wrong.

“There are players who do both. If you don’t run, then you have to make the difference. Valverde can do both.”

The Real Madrid boss also praised Rodrygo, saying: “He’s doing very well, he’s helping the team a lot. The team is more solid because the team is working up top. That helps.”

Concluding, Ancelotti had some words of praise for veteran midfielder Luka Modric, as he said:

“He can play tomorrow and against Atleti. He has no recovery problem, I am not surprised because I see what he does every day, how he acts, in the training. He is an example that the youngsters have to follow.

Source: AS