Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the press at Real Madrid City ahead of tomorrow’s derby against Atlético. The Italian coach, who said that “Cristiano Ronaldo, Arbeloa and Coentrão will start”, discussed the team’s first-leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. “It’s a knockout tie and we have 180 minutes to win it. Keeping a clean sheet at home will be very important and they’ll play a really intense game with reduced spaces on the pitch, so we’ll have to play quickly. We’ll have to be at our best and play confidently. We deserved to lose against Atlético in La Liga and tomorrow it will be a different team than the one that played them in the Bernabéu. We’ve changed a lot because we have more confidence and another way of playing”.

Real Madrid’s coach also lavished praise on tomorrow’s rival: “Atlético are perfectly organised on defence and are very good at using the break. They have kept the same quality in their organisation but have even more confidence. I like how organised they are because they’re very solid, compact and play well on the counter-attack. The derby is one of the most important matches for both clubs and a Real Madrid-Atlético is always important”.

On Simeone and his tendency to take the pressure off his team, Ancelotti commented: “Everything is going well for him this season and it’s normal to say this to take the pressure off a team that no one had down as favourites at the beginning of the season and are now in the top spot”. Regarding the importance of playing the first leg at home, the coach said: “It’s an important match and we have the support of our fans. Keeping a clean sheet will be crucial and we’ll try to avoid risks in back”.

When asked if he is pleased with the way his team is playing, Ancelotti replied: “We’re confident and the team is balanced. We win a lot of matches without taking risks and I’m satisfied. Hopefully we’ll win another ten straight games after the draw in Bilbao. All the players are doing well and we’ll make a decision about the line-up tomorrow, but Coentrão and Arbeloa will start”.

The coach also discussed the system he uses to start off the matches: “We’re playing with a 4-3-3 because it balances the team more. That’s what the statistics say and the three midfielders are working well. Not only is Di María working but he’s also scoring goals. He’s doing a really balanced job and he likes to play in this position”.

Ancelotti replied to questions about Cristiano Ronaldo and whether he will play tomorrow: “I don’t think we’ll have to wait for the Committee. His sanction won’t be serious and he’ll be on tomorrow’s line-up. He’ll start”. As for his thoughts on the Cristiano’s gesture after his sending off in San Mamés, Ancelotti was clear: “You’ll have to ask him. I don’t think it was such a bad gesture and the red card was an exaggeration. He’s a player who’s constantly provoked and fouled. I don’t think his gesture was that bad”.

Ancelotti was also asked about Bale: “Bale is available. He’s recovered well and has done well every day that he’s trained with the team. He did a good job for part of the season, when he was fit. He’s also had some problems, but he’ll be much better next year since he’ll have a full preseason and will have adapted to Spanish football”.

As for his thoughts on Modric’s fantastic form, Ancelotti said: “Modric’s ability is his fantastic progression with the ball and his position gives him that opportunity. This is the reason. It was also important to get used to being here because the first year in a new club, country and culture isn’t that easy. He’s doing a good job”.

The last two players the coach was asked about were Jesé and Varane. “I took him off in Bilbao because he was tired and had worked really hard. With a player down we had to defend more to avoid problems. He’s starting because he did in Bilbao”, Ancelotti said about the home-grown player. Regarding Varane, he said: “His knee has recovered and he’s fine. He may play tomorrow and if he doesn’t tomorrow he will on Saturday. The player is doing really well”, he said."

Valkyrja wrote:

Casillas
Carvajal Pepe Ramos Marcelo
Illarra Xabi Modric
Bale Benz Cristiano

Everything went well in the derby against Atlético Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti said as much in the press room. The Italian coach was pleased with the win and praised his team's performance: "I am completely satisfied with the match, everyone did fantastically.

We did everything right; we recovered the ball well and were very aggressive and compact. My wish would be to have a team like tonight all of the time. We won the match by playing well. Our team showed that we can play matches like this and we have to do that as consistently as possible because now every match is important".

Goals from Pepe, Di María and Jesé gave Real Madrid a great advantage in the cup semi-final. Ancelotti does not believe that the tie is decided however: "The result is very good and the match was too, but we have to be careful. We have to do the same in the second leg, but it will not be easy because Atlético Madrid will do their best to turn things around. We have to prepare well for the match, like we did for tonight’s". About whether it was their best match of the season, he said: "I ​​think so, especially since our opponents are a good team. They are well-organised, strong and aggressive and that is what makes it a very good match".

The Italian mentioned several players by name. "Everyone knows that Jesé is very important to us. He scores goals in big matches", he said about the former academy player. About Bale, who was not involved in the match, he said: "He hasn’t taken a turn for the worse or anything, he is fine and I preferred to rest him because Cristiano can’t play on Saturday and having Gareth fresh will be good. He’ll be there on Saturday".

The Whites’ coach talked about the differences between the La Liga derby and tonight’s: "A lot has changed, we are playing more naturally, the team is more compact and playing together better. The players have been working very hard and today they had a good match. The loss in La Liga hurt us and we had the awareness to do things better this time".

When asked about how Pepe had defended against Diego Costa, he said: "The task was to be careful with him because he is very dangerous. It was an intense match and there were words between them, but everything went well. There was some aggression in the match and that is why there was the odd foul". He also praised job done in defence: "There is no need for any more words, it was perfect. The back four had a perfect match".

The coach was asked about the system and the midfield with Modric, Alonso and Di María: "I see what they do in training and the characteristics of the players. We are more balanced with this system. It is more difficult for some players in this system. Modric and Alonso are doing well and we also have Illarra and Isco. The time will come for everyone to play, although some of them are not playing much right now".

Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension, Ancelotti said: "No one is happy about it. Not being able to play for three matches is not normal. That is why we appealed. It would be normal for him to have the suspension reduced because three matches for what he did is not normal".

Reports in the Spanish Press this morning claim that Raphael Varane will be back in the Real Madrid starting XI this week.

Los Blancos go to Vicente Calderon on Wednesday for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

They have a 3-0 lead going into the match, and as such, Carlo Ancelotti will start the France international as he looks to come back from injury.

The youngster has been out since November 9 with a recurring knee injury, but after coming through training, AS believe that the Italian tactician will put his faith in the centre-back for the derby.

Varane will also be put into the XI to protect either Sergio Ramos or Pepe, who are both a booking away from suspension.