The rivals of Real Madrid and Barcelona, locked in a defending battle at La Liga and clashed in the final of the Copa del Rey, have “a lot of respect” for each other, explains the coach of Los Blancos, Carlo Ancelotti. The leaders of Madrid Trail Barcelona by three points in the Spanish elite with nine remaining games and reached the final of the COPA Del Rey in the middle of the week with a dramatic victory of 5-4 on the Real Sociedad. They will face Barça in the final on April 26 after the Catalans have passed Atletico Madrid.
“Barcelona plays well, they are in good shape,” Ancelotti told journalists on Friday before his team’s match against Valence this weekend.
“When you play a final, you must respect all your opponents.
“I think there is a lot of respect for Barcelona because of their quality, and I think that Barcelona also has a lot of respect for Real Madrid.”
Real will also face Barça at the Olympic stadium in a crucial championship match in May, while the two clubs take place in the quarter -finals of the Champions League.
The men of Ancelotti needed extension against Sociedad to ensure an exciting in the semi-final of 4-4, second in Tuesday.
The La Liga liga’s title champions welcomed a Valencia team on Saturday which organized an undefeated race for four games to escape from the relegation zone.
“We have doubts, of course, due to the effort in overtime,” added Ancelotti.
“We are aware that Valence is doing very well. It is an important moment of the season.”
Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains away with muscle injury while the second choice Andriy Lunin is also a doubt to face Valence.
Ancelotti said he was confident that Courtois would be able to face Arsenal during the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, but admitted that Fran Gonzalez, a third 19-year choice, could make his senior debut this weekend.
“There is no concern, Courtois is much better and we think he can do it on Tuesday,” said 65 -year -old Italian coach.
“We have a doubt for the match of tomorrow with Lunin, who has a minor injury, and if he is not in good shape, I have completely confidence in Fran.”
When he was asked if he would leave the club if they would win the Liga triples, the Copa del Rey and the titles of the Champions League, Ancelotti insisted: “I will not be the one who asks to leave this club.”
Ancelotti’s tax fraud has ended earlier this week, the Spanish prosecutors who asked to be imprisoned for four years and nine months for hiding income from the Tax Office.
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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