Today, Carlo Ancelotti spoke at a press conference ahead of the Copa del Rey semifinal match against Real Sociedad (taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, at 9:30 PM at the Santiago Bernabéu). The first leg ended with a 0-1 victory, with a goal from Endrick. Here’s what Ancelotti had to say:
50th match of the season:
“We are doing well, motivated, and in good shape. We are excited about playing another final—we would love it.”
“When I played, there wasn’t as much wear and tear, so many matches, and preparation was different. Now, we have to manage all of this, hoping that one day we’ll have more time to recover and prepare for matches.”
“So far, we’ve handled it well, considering the problems we’ve faced—especially the serious injuries we’ve had.”
Will Lunin play tomorrow and in the final?
“Lunin or Courtois could play in the final, but if we don’t reach the final, neither of them will play! 🤣”
On Endrick:
“Endrick is not worried. He is working very well, and I’m delighted with him. He has made the most of his minutes. Tomorrow, he could get chances because he has performed well in the Copa del Rey.”
Fran García’s status:
“Fran García is doing well, contributing a lot, taking advantage of Mendy’s injury. Mendy and Ceballos are trying to be fit for the first leg against Arsenal.”
Will Mbappé surpass Cristiano Ronaldo?
“It’s difficult to compare Cristiano Ronaldo with Mbappé. I hope he can achieve what Cristiano did at Madrid. If he does, he will be a legend at Real Madrid, just like Cristiano.”
On claims that Barcelona plays better than Real Madrid:
“It doesn’t bother me when people say that Barcelona plays better than Real Madrid. Everyone has their own taste. Football has many aspects, and people can have different opinions.”
On Alaba’s condition:
“Alaba is doing very well. He played with Austria. Playing every three days can be risky, but tomorrow he could play, as those who didn’t start against Leganés have a better chance of playing.”
No Real Madrid coach has won three Copa del Rey titles:
“Real Madrid has only played six finals in the last 29 years, two of them with me. I could be the first coach to win three Copa del Rey titles with Real Madrid. Yes, it motivates me, and it motivates the club too. Reaching any final is an achievement. Since we are close, have a small advantage from the first leg, and will have the support of our fans, we are even more motivated.”
On Endrick facing tough competition:
“Endrick’s only challenge is competition—he has world-class players ahead of him. The club’s history shows that many current starters spent time on the bench before earning their spot, like Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde, and Camavinga. If you want to be at Madrid, you have to accept some time on the bench.”
On Enzo Alves, Marcelo’s son:
“Enzo Alves (Marcelo’s son) played very well and made a difference in the Juvenil match. I don’t know him much, but I took a picture with him and Xabi Alonso’s son years ago. He has a bright future—he’s very smart. The whole club is excited about him.”
Comparing Barcelona and Madrid’s style:
“Barcelona plays very beautiful, intense football. I like Madrid’s football. It’s hard to compare because the styles are different. If they were the same, it would be easier. The playing style depends on the characteristics of the players, and we have different players. I love the way Real Madrid plays—of course, there are things to improve.”
On adapting to change:
“Those who try to maintain the same identity forever fail in the end because players change so much.”
Winning by a narrow margin:
“In our last 10 victories, 8 were by just one goal. That’s because matches are highly competitive, especially towards the end of the season. We’ve been more effective in attack but less solid defensively. That’s a characteristic of this season, affected by key injuries in defense, which have made us lose some defensive solidity.”
On keeping players motivated:
“I try to keep players motivated and focused, but it’s impossible to always be at 100%. The demanding schedule makes it complicated. Some matches we’ve been more focused, others less so. Every player is different mentally—some are always concentrated, while others find it harder.”
On refereeing decisions:
“Leganés might complain about a ‘gray’ situation, just as we might complain about a ‘gray’ situation. I have nothing more to add.”
Coaching staff and match preparation:
“I have two assistants, one analyst, a group of analysts, and a goalkeeping coach. The biggest problem is not having enough time to prepare matches. Expanding the coaching staff isn’t necessary if we continue to have so little time to prepare.”
Tight schedule before a possible final:
“Wednesday, we play against Getafe, and the final would be on Saturday. If Barcelona or Atlético reach the final, they’ll have more rest. The most important thing is reaching the final, not having one more or less day of rest. The key is having at least the minimum required rest—72 hours.”
Mbappé in today’s training session:
Squad list of Real Madrid for the match
📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) March 31, 2025
🆚 @RealSociedad pic.twitter.com/3I0Mqydlao