Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach, said that Frenchman Karim Benzema should be among the finalists for the Ballon d’Or and assured that “it is like wine” because “the older the better.”
“I think that because of what he is doing and what he did last season he has to be on the list of players who can win the Ballon d’Or. That said, Karim has time to win it, it is not his last season. It’s like wine, the older it is, the better it is, “he said at a press conference.
Satisfied with the moment of his team, the Italian coach pointed to the defensive aspect as the main factor to improve: “In this period of the season there is always something to improve and in defense we have to do it.”
“We have focused on the offensive aspect because we have more quality and defensively we were better against Mallorca, with more aggressiveness. It is the plan for the next matches, to be more aggressive when we do not have the ball, “he added.
The demand increases with a rival like Villarreal, of which he highlighted his quality and the difficulties that he will create for his team at the Santiago Bernabéu.
«We are going to face a team that has a lot of quality, experience, good organization, the habit of playing games at a high level. It is a very important game in which to win you have to do everything very well, “he said.
The biggest difficulty Ancelotti faces is putting together each starting team and managing the rotations: “It’s not easy. It is very complicated because you give a player rest, the substitute does it very well and then you put him on the bench. In the end you have to put in a team that can win the game taking into account those who are fresher, those who have not played and have more possibilities.
Eden Hazard rested against Mallorca and increases his starting options against Villarreal. For Ancelotti, the most important thing is that he maintains his good feelings, without feeling diminished by physical problems.
«Hazard is training well, he has no problems and has recovered well after the game against Valencia. If he is one hundred percent of his condition, I cannot guarantee that he will play every game, I can tell none of the squad because I can give him rest to protect himself from injury. The important thing is that it is okay, “he said.
With 21 goals in six league games, Real Madrid is on track to record offensive records: “The players are doing well. I have to be honest, we have focused a lot on the defensive aspect because it was the one that needed improvement the most. The offense is determined by the quality and creativity of the forwards.
The last player to contribute a lot of goal is Marco Asensio, who took advantage of his first start by scoring a triplet to Mallorca. Ancelotti stressed its importance despite not giving continuity.
“Marco was important before the game, without having played, and he is after a game in which he showed his quality and the ability to play in a different position. For us he is a very important player in the squad, “he said. EFE (HN)