Real Madrid Not Worried About Preseason Woes
The summer tour of the United States is proving to be a tough one for Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffering back-to-back defeats to AC Milan and Barcelona. But despite the disappointing results, the Italian coach is remaining calm, citing the importance of preseason games and the gradual return of his squad from holidays.
"We’re not worried about the results," Ancelotti said. "The aim is for players to get minutes and get them in good shape. We’re working on our preparations, and the players are gradually coming back to the team." With summer signings Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal set to return from holidays by August 7, Ancelotti is confident that his team will be well-prepared for the new season.
Real Madrid’s preseason woes may be a cause for concern for fans, but Ancelotti is undeterred. "I can assure you that we are going to compete with the squad we have," he said. "We can fight for the seven titles. The calendar is very demanding, but we have the quality to compete for everything, it is what the club commands." The European Super Cup against Atalanta on August 14 and the La Liga opener against Mallorca four days later will be stern tests of Ancelotti’s words.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti has called for patience with teenage striker Endrick, who has started both of Madrid’s games in the U.S. but failed to get on the scoresheet. "We have to be patient with him," Ancelotti said. "He has shown great quality and talent. As with Arda Güler last year, we don’t have to put pressure on the young players, he has a lot of pressure behind him, he is a very much loved player all over the world, especially in Brazil, but we must be patient with these players, with young people especially."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, on the other hand, was delighted with his team’s performance in their win over Real Madrid. "We promote young people and develop talent, which for us is the most important thing," he said. "We are very proud because there is work behind it. Of course we go to the market to sign good players, but for us it is essential to generate talent." Barcelona complete their U.S. summer tour against AC Milan on Tuesday.
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