Carlo Ancelotti anticipates Real Madrid’s best form for Champions League final
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Real Madrid's Toni Kroos with coach Carlo Ancelotti after being substituted in the 5-0 Spanish La Liga win over Alaves.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is already thinking about the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, saying that his team’s 5-0 thrashing of Alaves in the Spanish La Liga on May 14 was a warmup for the big showdown at Wembley on June 1.
Real, who have already clinched their 36th La Liga title and reached the final of European football’s top club competition after beating Bayern Munich, are in top form, according to Ancelotti.
The Italian wants to make the most of their remaining games so that they are in the best condition to face Dortmund.
“These games are important to maintain the rhythm, the good dynamics, the motivation and the good play,” said the 64-year-old, whose side still have two league matches against Villarreal and Real Betis to play.
“There are two weeks left. Now we’ll rest for a few days and next week we’ll do some physical work. In the second week we will do tactical work.
“For me as a coach, it’s the best season. The team has been fantastic, we deservedly won La Liga. We’re on a cloud, but we have to keep going because we haven’t played the most important game yet.”
Real, unbeaten in all competitions since January, have 93 points from 36 games in the Spanish top flight, something Ancelotti put down to the team’s young talent.
“This team has a lot of talent. Very young people with a lot of quality. It has the opportunity to mark an era in the future, given the value of the youngsters we have,” he added.
There was another positive as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is yet to concede after starting three games since he made his return from injury against Cadiz earlier in May.
“I feel very good. I understand that there are people who might doubt how you’d come back. But I knew I was going to come back strong,” the Belgian told Real Madrid TV. “I’m the same Courtois or even better.”
Ancelotti also spoke about the future of veteran Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, who returned to his national side for this summer’s European Championship after a three-year break.
The 34-year-old will be out of contract with Real at the end of the season.
“At the moment, we are not worried about what he is going to do, neither am I, nor the club, nor Toni. Until June 1, this is a secondary issue. We are now thinking about winning the Champions League,” the coach said.
“The Ballon d’Or for Kroos? If he wins the Champions League and the Euro. I think he can do a double. Germany can win with Kroos.”
REUTERS
