Ancelotti talks Mbappe, Carvajal, Vinicius, Alaba, Vazquez, January plans ahead of Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

After a two-week break, Real Madrid return to action this Saturday as they take on Celta Vigo away at the Balaidos Stadium, hoping to cut down the gap to the top of the table.

Real Madrid went into the international break with an important win against Villarreal, but the game also saw them lose Dani Carvajal to an ACL injury.

However, Carlo Ancelotti & co. have recovered some other important players like Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and Vinicius Jr. from their fitness woes.

On the eve of the game, the Real Madrid manager spoke to the press and discussed the injury situation within the squad as well as the discourse around Kylian Mbappe and his trip to Sweden.

On Carvajal and transfer plans

Kicking things off by addressing Carvajal’s absence, Ancelotti said: “First of all, we’re very sorry for Dani, he’s a very important player.

“For the next few months, we will lose him as a player, but not as a leader in the dressing room, because he will be here and he will work with us. We are going to take advantage of his strength and his head.”

On how the players are feeling following the international break, he added: “We have worked well during this break. Many players have taken advantage of it to improve their fitness.

“The internationals are back in top form. We have a good feeling for tomorrow’s game against a good team. I see the players more motivated.”

Following Carvajal’s injury there has been a lot of chatter about whether Real Madrid will or will not bring in reinforcements in January. Ancelotti, however, insisted that he has not asked any signings from the club, as he remarked:

“I haven’t asked the club for reinforcements, because last year we handled the injuries we had well and it’s going to be the same this season.”

When asked if he intends to find solutions from within the academy, Ancelotti pointed out three names, saying:

“Loren [Lorenzo Aguado], [Jesus] Fortea, Jacobo [Ramon]… We make a daily evaluation of what they can bring to us.”

When asked who else apart from Lucas Vazquez can fill in at right-back from the current squad, Ancelotti replied: “Militao.”

On being further probed about the team’s January transfer plans and whether a new signing is definitively ruled out, the Real Madrid head coach answered:

“If we need the right player for Real Madrid, we won’t rule it out, but it’s not that simple. We have youth players who can contribute, the return of Alaba, who will soon be with the team…. At the moment we are not thinking of making any signings.”

On Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe is close to reaching 100% insists Ancelotti. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappe has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the last couple of weeks, with his trip to Sweden after asking to be left out of the France squad due to fitness issues, has stirred up a lot of controversy.

Discussing the Frenchman’s mindset, Ancelotti, who reportedly had a face-to-face chat with the forward after the reports of a rape investigation at his hotel surfaced, said:

“He has taken advantage of the break to improve his condition. He’s very well, happy and looking forward to coming back tomorrow and being important for the team.

“These 15 days have helped him a lot, because he’s a different player to what he was before the break.”

When asked if he had worked on the tactical side of Mbappe’s game during the international break, he added:

“Only physical. On a tactical level, his position doesn’t change to how he’s played in the last few games.

“He may vary with Vinicius in his position on the left flank, but we’ve been focusing on physical work. This break has been good for him and I think he’s doing very well.”

On whether the Frenchman is affected by the media reports and criticism, the manager remarked: “I’m not here to comment on speculation. I focus on the job he’s doing.”

Ancelotti further added: “I speak to the players every day. I can comment on what I said before, and at the moment it is all speculation. I don’t see him affected at all, with a lot of enthusiasm to contribute to the team.”

When asked about Mbappe’s trip to Sweden and whether it was allowed by the club, Ancelotti hit back at the media saying:

“The rest days were scheduled for him and then everyone chooses what they want to do. I went to London for two days and I didn’t ask anyone for permission. I don’t have a travel agency to organise the players’ trips either.”

On what level he sees Mbappe at currently, the manager said: “Close to 100 per cent. He’s doing very well. It’s a pleasure to see him training.”

Team news

On any plans to rotate his team tomorrow given that Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona next week, Ancelotti said:

“The players who arrived last (Rodrygo and Valverde) have trained today and we will evaluate tomorrow. The others are fine.”

Talking about Vinicius Jr. and his work during the international break to regain full fitness, Ancelotti remarked:

“It’s been very good for him. Like Kylian and Mendy, he’s taken advantage of the break to work hard and intensely and also have days off, which I think he’s enjoyed. Mine are personal feelings, but the judge will be the pitch tomorrow.”

With Lucas Vazquez all set to take over as the first-choice right-back for the rest of the season, Ancelotti had words of praise for the veteran Spaniard.

“One of the best qualities Lucas Vázquez has is his physical strength: he will have no problem playing every game I put him in. It’s something we don’t even contemplate. Physically he’s at his best. We have full confidence in him,” he said.

On the general feeling he is getting from the team heading into a crucial period of the season, the Italian icon said:

“The feelings are quite different. I’m much more confident now than I was a month ago. We can bring out a better version of ourselves than in recent times.

“It’s an important moment in the season, we have very strong opponents in the Champions League and La Liga and we have a good feeling.”

Finally, addressing rumours that he was approached for the England job before Thomas Tuchel’s appointment, Ancelotti said:

“Nothing with the English federation. They have chosen a very good coach, tactically very strong. I wish him all the best.”

Source: AS