Ancelotti does not rotate for the big match against Man City

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will field a strong team against Getafe in La Liga's 34th round today, instead of resting key players for the Champions League semi-final second leg.

Real Madrid currently sit third in La Liga with 68 points, one point behind Atletico and 14 points behind Barca, with little chance of defending their title. In fact, Barca could even become champions this round if they beat Espanyol in the derby on May 14th.

However, Ancelotti denied giving up on La Liga to focus on the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Etihad on May 17th, and saw victory as the best way to prepare for the next match. "The phrase 'Fight to the end, go Real' is like our middle name," he said.

Coach Ancelotti at the press conference before the Real Madrid - Getafe match. Photo: realmadrid.com

The Italy coach confirmed that Karim Benzema, Rodrygo Goes, and David Alaba are absent due to minor issues, while Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos have recovered from injuries and are ready to return. Vinicius and Thibaut Courtois are guaranteed to play. According to him, the players are all in good physical condition, motivated, and eager to win, and he will field a competitive lineup.

When asked if giving opportunities to many reserve players would anger Getafe's relegation rivals, the Real Madrid coach replied: "They don't need to be angry because we will field the strongest possible team, with players full of energy."

Ancelotti also jokingly declined to reveal the starting lineup because he didn't want his close friend Jose Bordalas – the current Getafe coach – to have an advantage. Ancelotti praised Bordalas's understanding of football and life, and said he had a good time when his Spanish colleague visited Real's training center in Valdebebas in the summer of 2022.

"For Real, every game demands that we play our best to try and win. The Getafe game was no exception. A good performance gives you positive motivation, while a bad game can raise doubts before the Man City match," Ancelotti added about the objective against Getafe.

When asked whether Ancelotti and Guardiola are currently the two best coaches in the world , the 63-year-old coach smiled and said succinctly: "No, there are many others."

Hong Duy

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