"Without Bellingham we have won four games out of four"

Madrid are ready to face the first round of 16 tie against RB Leipzig. Germany will test the strength of the La Liga leaders and Ancelotti knows full well that his team will have to play a complete game to get anything positive out of the game.
"We're taking the return leg of the Champions League well despite the problems we've had. It's a competition that we like a lot. We are playing against a strong, quality opponent, a team that plays intense football. We have to play a complete game in every sense of the word," the Italian began.
Regarding Madrid's huge run of form, who have only lost two games after six months of competition, the Italian manager was full of praise for his squad: "I see a solid, serious team, there is a good atmosphere, no complaints. At the moment, everything is going well despite what we've been through".
On the other hand, Ancelotti highlighted Vinicius' great performance against Girona and is confident that he will have that consistency: "He has a lot of quality and puts a lot of intensity into his dribbles and sprints.... If he does it consistently for 90 minutes, it can be noticed because there are opponents who can't cope with him in the second half".
The name of Kroos also came up and the Italian praised his player to the skies, who still doesn't know what he is going to do with his future. "It's difficult to say it's the best season, because it's always the best. Kroos harnesses the energy of the youngsters. His passing percentage is the same as it was 10 years ago," he commented.

Much credit to Madrid, who are without Courtois, Alaba, Militao, Rudiger and Bellingham: "If you tell me that in August I'm going to play with so many injured players, I would have thought we had got through the group stage. I never think about those who are not here. That's the way it is. Bellingham is out, but without him, we won four out of four. These injuries have been an opportunity to be more motivated. We can do well.
On the other hand, Ancelotti, who again left in doubt whether Kepa or Lunin will start, again referred to the future of Kroos: "Whatever he decides, we have to respect it. I think you have to leave football at the top. This year it could be, or next year, I don't know, because his performance has always been good. He has never had ups and downs. But you have to stop, as a coach too, at the top of your career. The motivation is not titles or money, for those players it's playing football. He loves to do it, he does it very well and he is very respected for it. As long as he doesn't lose it, he can continue."
Ancelotti has a squad in which players like Camavinga and Tchouameni have had to lend a hand in attacking duties, something the Madrid coach was keen to stress in the press room. "Convincing them is very important, but you have to consider whether you can do it. The player is very clear, when you talk to him you understand if he wants to or not. Almost all of them have told me that they have no problem. I don't put them if they don't want to, or put a strategy that they are not happy with.... Convince yes, force no," he said.
"Motivation is always high because I like what I do and where I do it. I like the squad I have. The Champions League is back and for Real Madrid it's the most important competition. We're going to compete", the coach said in relation to whether the hunger is still intact in his players.
Finally, Ancelotti, who confessed that he is afraid to remove Carvajal as a centre-back after the two games he has played, explained how he is managing the generational transition in the team. "It's natural, you don't have to push it. There are legends who have left, others are staying... the basis is the lack of ego of the veterans, which has allowed the youngsters to adapt well to the squad and the club", he concluded.