‘Courtois? We don’t need another keeper’

Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished suggestions that Real Madrid will try to sign Thibaut Courtois in the summer.

Stories emerged on Friday that Los Blancos were keen on bringing in the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper if his situation with parent club Chelsea couldn’t be resolved.

However, ahead of their game with Elche on Saturday afternoon, the Coach has claimed that the Belgian won’t be joining.

“No, no. I think that we have two very good goalkeepers, so we don’t need another,” he told a Press conference.

“Of course he’s a very good goalkeeper, but in this position we’re well covered.”

The Italian then commented on his starting XI for the game this afternoon, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo’s appeal against a three-match ban.

“I’m not sure about my starting eleven, because we have to wait for the decision of the [Spanish Disciplinary] Committee [for Sport, replaced by a new Administrative Tribunal] on Cristiano.

“Asier Illarramendi will play in Luka Modric’s position, and we’ll rotate the central defenders. [Raphael] Varane will play in Sergio Ramos’ place.

“I don’t think it’s logical that we have to wait so long, because we appealed in good time. But that’s the time bureaucracy takes and we can’t do anything else but wait.

“My team talk is at two tomorrow and I hope I have the decision before then. I’m convinced Cristiano will play, because I think it’s unbelievable that he can be suspended for three matches for what he did in the game against Bilbao.”

Ancelotti then went on to remark on his team’s chance to end the weekend in first place, and Los Blancos’ physical level.

“I don’t know what will happen. We’re focused on our goal, which is winning and getting the three points.

“Elche are a team that can cause us problems, so we need to be focused as ever and do everything we can to win.

“I don’t think the players’ physical condition is a problem in the last third of the league season. But we have to be careful, because we have a lot of games and they’re important.

“I’m not worried about the future from the point of view of our physical condition. We’re in good shape, and we can rotate so that the players are fresh.”

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