Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is staying positive despite his team’s winless preseason run. The Champions League holders suffered a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan and a 2-1 loss to Barcelona. Ancelotti has emphasized that the results are not the main focus during preseason. He stated, “We’re not worried. The result is not so important. It’s preseason games and we are missing eight players. We’re working on our preparations and the players are gradually coming back to the team. The aim is for players to get minutes and to get them in good shape.”
Madrid is currently in the United States for their preseason tour and will face Chelsea in their final game before returning to Europe. Despite the setbacks in the friendlies, Ancelotti is confident that the team will be ready for the upcoming season. With key players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal set to return to the squad, Ancelotti believes that Madrid can compete for titles. He mentioned, “I can assure you that we are going to compete with the squad we have. 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.”
On the other hand, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is proud of the team’s performance in preseason, especially highlighting the contribution of young players. Laporta praised the club’s emphasis on promoting and developing talent within the team. He mentioned, “We promote young people and develop talent, which for us is the most important thing. 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’s impressive showing in the victories against Manchester City and Real Madrid reflects their commitment to nurturing young talent. Laporta stressed the importance of style of play and values, stating, “We give importance to how we win. We gave a good image [against Madrid] and that is the most important thing.”
Real Madrid and Barcelona are approaching their preseason preparations with different perspectives. While Madrid is focused on integrating key players back into the team and building up fitness levels, Barcelona is prioritizing the development of young talent and maintaining their style of play. It will be interesting to see how these approaches translate into success once the competitive season begins. Preseason serves as a crucial time for teams to fine-tune their strategies and evaluate their options before entering the rigors of the official matches. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have their unique goals and philosophies going into the new season, and it will be fascinating to witness their progress as they strive for success on the domestic and European fronts.
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