"The result is the least important thing in this type of match"

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti played down the importance of his side's 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the pre-season friendly 'El Clasico' in the New York metropolitan area on Saturday. "I think in these games the result is the least important thing," he said in the mixed zone.

Pau Victor, with a brace, was the star of a Barcelona side that has won all four friendlies they have played against Madrid on American soil. Nico Paz cut the gap for Real Madrid.

"We continue with the line of the pre-season, of giving playing time and preparing the players who are coming back little by little. Now we are happy that Vinicius has returned well, Militao too. Next game Rodrygo will also start playing," commented the coach.

Ancelotti also highlighted the step forward taken by the youngsters in this pre-season: "There are a lot of youngsters in the squad who are doing very well. I think that in these two games, the most positive thing has been the youngsters, who have shown talent, personality. That's what we can take from them," he said.

In this sense, he spoke specifically about Endrick, who played his second game as a starter. "He has to take it as a job to adapt to the new team, to the new teammates, to the new environment. Calmly, calmly, without pressure. He doesn't have to prove anything. We are convinced that he is a great talent," he argued.

Finally, Ancelotti referred to the stars absent on this tour (Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde) and said that, after joining training on their return home, they will all be available for the European Super Cup against Atalanta on 14th August.

 

August 4, 2024