Ancelotti upbeat for Juve clash

Carlo Ancelotti remains confident ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Juventus on Wednesday.

The Italians have the advantage from the first game, having recorded a 2-1 victory in Turin last week, but Ancelotti believes winning this year’s competition is a good opportunity for his players to write their names into the history books.

“The team is focused and eager to produce another great semi-final performance to reach the final,” he told a Press conference.

“It’s an important time because we are close to making history in this competition [by retaining the trophy]. The statistics are against us but we’ll be doing everything possible to win.

“I will ask the players to show intensity and play with lots of concentration so that we don’t make any errors. They should do that in the best way possible way and are relaxed about it.

“I know they have an incredible desire to play in another final and that will bring out the best in them.

“I’m not expecting Juventus to play defensively. They are not going to change their style because they are used to playing good football.

“It doesn’t alter things much for us if they use three central defenders or four.”

Ancelotti also commented on the recent whistles directed at both Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo and feels it is something that will not occur against Juve.

“Every Coach feels it when one of his players is whistled but Casillas has experience and this will not affect him. In fact it will serve to motivate him.

“Sometimes I can understand it because mistakes are made, but sometimes they are not understood. That applies to Iker and Cristiano but this Wednesday will be different.

“The fans know what matters. It happened against Bayern, against Atletico…the Madrid fans will be united,” insisted Ancelotti, who confirmed that Karim Benzema is in contention for a place following injury.

“Benzema is 100 per cent fit and available. He could feature from the start or later in the game, although he has not played for a month and that is my doubt.

“I don’t know whether to make use of his quality from the beginning or when the pace drops,” he admitted.

Tags Ancelotti Casillas Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus
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