Ancelotti teaches Xavi a lesson after his comments on Real Madrid’s performance against Chelsea

In the previous press conference for the Barcelona-Eintracht Frankfurt match in the second leg of the European League quarter-final, Xavi Hernandez said words that were not well received in the Spanish capital.

The coach entered the comparison between Barcelona and Real Madrid regarding such victories and stressed that it is not enough for Barcelona to win in the last minute.

“It is the history of Barcelona that requires us, not Real Madrid. We don’t look to Real Madrid to claim victory. Our 40-year history, when Cruyff came along, set a standard: to win by playing well. If not, we are not happy. Real Madrid is an amazing rival, with a very competitive gene. But Barcelona is another story.

Some Real Madrid fans understood the statements as a “message” for coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who struggled a lot to eliminate Chelsea in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Today in the press conference prior to facing Sevilla, the Italian coach responded to Xavi.

Ancelotti said: “I would like to respond to Xavi with a question. What does it mean to play well? Everyone has their opinion. For me, playing well means doing well both when you have the ball and when you don’t. Good defense is not synonymous with playing well if the players don’t know what to do when they have the ball, and vice versa.

He added: “Football attacks and defends. There are many ways to defend: low, medium and high pressure. This is how I understand football and no one is going to make me change my mind as long as the rules don’t change. Atlético Madrid, for example, defended very well in the first leg against Manchester City.”

According to him, “it is difficult to train all teams.” He added: “Every team has its requirements: win titles, play well, avoid relegation… Training is not easy. It’s tough, but it’s work we love to do.”

But the Real Madrid coach confirmed that he sees his team focusing on what they can control: “We have a very important goal and we are focused on our mission. I care that the team fights to win titles. Everyone is free to say what they want,” he said before thinking that “the league is not over” and therefore, “we need to win” against Sevilla.

Modric “legend”

At the press conference, the Whites’ coach also praised Militao, a footballer who “surprised me a lot with his level and quality, although he could improve in the aspect of focus”, and also downplayed his quarrel with Kroos during the match against Chelsea – “it didn’t bother me.” We talked about him after the match” – and he highlighted Vinicius Tobias as “a young right-back who has a lot of energy and learns very quickly.” He also compared Modric, the “legend” of football, to Maldini, who “won the Champions League title at the age of forty”.

“If I had to compare him to someone, it would be with Maldini. As for the quality, the seriousness, how he understands football… they are legends. I think Luca will finish his career here, I’m not confirming that, I don’t know when but that’s everyone’s idea. There is no problem for the club, neither for us nor for him to renew, everything is crystal clear. He takes care of himself a lot, in his career he hasn’t had any major injuries and that helps him a lot.”

Source: sport