Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed suggestions he and Rayo Vallecano counterpart Paco Jemez don’t get along.
The pair crossed words over Zinidine Zidane and his position as Real Madrid Castilla Coach with Jemez critical of the Frenchman and Ancelotti defending his former assistant.
Speaking at a Press conference prior to Saturday’s match between the sides, Ancelotti stressed his respect for Jemez.
“I’ve never had any tension with him. It’s a discussion that was over a long time ago,” the Italian insisted, AS reports.
“I have great respect for him and how his team plays. It will be a normal game. What happened a month ago [the Zidane row] doesn’t apply.
“This is a game where we have to be careful. We know how Rayo play. We have to be prepared.
“It worries me when everyone speaks well of us. We have to be focused.
“We have to applaud a team who play a game to enjoy. I don’t like teams that change their approach for their opponents.
“Rayo is a good example to explain how Spanish football is played. They’re fighting against relegation and they play very attacking football.
“It’s a very, very good thing, a very, very positive thing.”
