halamadrid2 wrote:According to Carlo's press conference Ronaldo will be ready for the final while Pepe and Benzema are doubtful for next weeks game.

I hope we don't play a 4-4-2 if Benzema can't make it, we should play the 4-3-3 and put Morata in there instead of experimenting

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the various media outlets in the Cuidad Real Madrid's pressroom to draw a curtain on the Open Media Day. The Italian manager, who assured everyone that “Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale will be playing”, analysed the forthcoming European Cup final against Atlético in Lisbon: “The team has been fantastic in the Champions League and we now have a great opportunity of becoming a big part of the club's history. We are not obsessed by it but it is something that motivates all of us. We will use all our energy to try and win”.

A match with no secrets
“There are no secrets ahead of this match. Both teams know each other well, and finals are always very tight. We know we are up against a very solid side whose players work really well together. It will be difficult and in order to win we have to work really hard, stay united and the fans will need to help us like they did in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern”.

The key
“There are many factors. I think the first is having the required amount of cool-headedness to prepare for these kinds of matches. Fear is not a good thing. We will try to get the tactics right; when you're focused on what you have to do on the pitch, you forget about the fear”.

The favourite
“It will be tight and with the season they've had, Atlético have shown that they are a team with a lot of quality. There are no favourites in a final. It might be the case that after winning the League, Atlético are still in a state of euphoria, but we are really up for winning this competition because we have been playing so well in it up until now”.

The support of the fans
“I remember our journey from the hotel to Mestalla with our fans by our side, who were really excited and up for the game. That helped us massively towards beating Barcelona in that final. I wish for the same thing to happen in Lisbon and I'm sure it will”.
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE REACHED THE EUROPEAN CUP FINAL WITH REAL MADRID.
“I will impart as much knowledge as I can; I have a good understanding of these types of games, this will be my seventh such final. I have the experience to prepare for this match in the best way possible”.

Pepe and Benzema
“They're the two players we have doubts about. I'm a realist and as of today they can't play. There are four days left and we'll make our final decision. If Pepe can't play, Varane can take his place. As for Benzema, we can understand that the player isn't at 100%, but if he has injury problems, it's better if he doesn't play. If we don't think he's risking an injury he'll play".

Bale
“He had a special session in the gym today and didn't need to out on the field. Both he and Cristiano Ronaldo will play. Bale had a minor problem in the pre-season, but he has shown his quality and he's in good shape. He's very important for the team and he's excited to be playing in his first European Cup final. He'll have a great match”.

Illarra and Khedira's involvement
“We all prepare for the match together. Illarra looks good, relaxed and confident. I can confirm that he's available for Saturday. As is Khedira. He has done a fantastic job, with great professionalism. He hasn't played in many matches and that's the only problem he has”.

Difference in budgets
“It won't be key in this match. I don't think it will decide the game. It will be the technical, mental and tactical side that decides it. Not the financial. I don't think about losing. Just winning. I'm optimistic and positive. I only think about how to win and I'm not thinking about my future at the club right now. It's very clear whatever happens in the final. I'm happy to be here and to continue with or without the Décima”.

Zidane as a positive influence
“We have to focus on the positives and it's good to think that he scored in Glasgow and that he can bring his positive energy to the team. His charisma and knowledge of how to prepare for matches like this can help the players”.

http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/05/ancelotti-the-team-has-been-fantastic-in-the-champions-league

McAgger wrote:

halamadrid2 wrote:According to Carlo's press conference Ronaldo will be ready for the final while Pepe and Benzema are doubtful for next weeks game.

I hope we don't play a 4-4-2 if Benzema can't make it, we should play the 4-3-3 and put Morata in there instead of experimenting

Morata ain't starting a CL final, you can forget about it  

Over the course of this season's Champions League, Luka Modric completed 604 passes. The figure makes the Croat the best Real Madrid player in this statistic and the footballer who has made the most passes among those playing in the Lisbon final. The Balkan player is followed by Gabi, who to date has made 566 passes.

The game in which Modric was most prolific in this area was Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Juventus, when he made a hundred passes. Ancelotti's side are ahead of Atlético de Madrid with 5,507 passes made, 459 per game, while the Rojiblancos have made 3,797. The next finalists in this ranking are Pepe (535), Ramos (502) and Koke (478).

http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/05/modric-best-passer-in-the-final

Yohan Modric wrote:Ozil, Callejon, Mourinho, Essien and Higuain will all apparently be in Lisbon to support Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti gave a press conference just over 24 hours before the Champions League final. The Italian analysed the encounter with Atlético at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica: "This Champions League is a dream for me and I'm trying to achieve it. I have a lot of dreams and one of them is to see us play as we did against Bayern tomorrow".

“What worries me the most is the unpredictable. Anything can happen in a final. The most predictable is to think in how we will perform in the game. We have to enjoy the moment. The last time I had a press conference before a final was in 2007, and I enjoyed it because I thought it was the last one. Maybe for this I'm also enjoying today's".

A historic final
“A final is always a final and there's not a lot of difference. We started the season thinking about this objective, and winning the Décima. For this tomorrow's game is unique and special for everyone. It's my seventh final in the Champions League and I can't ask for any more from this tournament".


WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HERE AND WE WANT TO GIVE OUR BEST PERFORMANCE.
"I don't have anything else to ask in these moments. Everyone knows how important the Champions League is for Real Madrid, and I'm doing my best. We are close to winning and this is the objective".

A close match
“Our intention is to play with our style and characteristics. It's what we'll try to do and it will be a close match. Atlético also has to play and attack and we also have to use the counter-attack well. We have to do everything: defend well and attack well. They will do the same. I predict a close match tactically”.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Pepe
“Today's training is important to assess the situation. Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale don't have any issues, while Pepe and Benzema will train today and we'll see what decision we'll make tomorrow. If Benzema doesn't play we'll go with a different kind of player. It won't be a game for individual performances. We have two options to replace Xabi: Illarra and Khedira”.

The professionalism of his squad
“From my first day I could see that the players are serious and professional, they work well together. They all try to help each other and it's the first time I've had a season without any problems with players getting angry. The players were very professional”.

The fans
“It's an important game for everyone. We'll be focussed and we want to give it everything. The support of the fans is very important. It was in Valencia, and we're sure they'll help us give it everything as always. The important thing is to stay calm, train well and give clear instructions. We have to enjoy this moment”.

Praise for Simeone
“A manager is fortunate if he has a good relationship with the players, working to ensure they give it everything. He has a very good and unique chemistry with his players. It's why they've won the Liga for him. He does a fantastic job”.

His future
“I'm only thinking about the Champions League and my future is tomorrow. My future is very clear. I'm used to this discussion because the manager is always judged. After tomorrow's match we'll evaluate my work”.

http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/05/ancelotti-this-champions-league-is-a-dream-for-me-and-im-trying-to-achieve-it

Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano believes that Carlo Ancelotti's side will defeat Atletico Madrid and claim their tenth Champions League trophy.

The local rivals clash in Lisbon, both trying to complete a double, with Atleti having already sealed La Liga glory and Real winning the Copa del Rey against Barcelona last month.

Diego Simeone's side took four points from their two clashes with the city rivals in the Primera Division but Di Stefano believes Carlo Ancelotti's men will come out on top in Lisbon.

"The support will be important. In our time there weren't big stadia like this," he is quoted as saying by Marca.

"Hopefully we'll win La Decima. The boys are going to bring home the cup.

"Madrid are a very good team, always respecting Atletico, and we want to win the European Cup playing well. The team are playing well, with a good front line and movement.

"In finals, you don't know what will happen but they are united. The team have the quality to prove themselves. But another thing is that you can be nervous if you're not lucky.

"Madrid have their category and Atletico theirs. Atletico are excited, are winning and have a good support. But I hope that Madridistas answer with an ovation for their players."

Di Stefano was part of the Real Madrid side who won five straight European Cups in the 1950s and 1960s, and is currently honorary president of the club.