Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti reflects on facing Milan, plays down rumours of the Italy job and wishes Fernando Torres well.
The Italian will be confronting one of his former clubs in Dubai tomorrow and, speaking at a Press conference in the Emirates Head Quarters ahead of the game, highlighted the personal significance that the game holds for him.
“I’m excited and it will be very special because I have a great history with Milan and their Coach [Filippo Inzaghi], who was one of my players,” Ancelotti explained.
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti reflects on facing Milan, plays down rumours of the Italy job and wishes Fernando Torres well.
The Italian will be confronting one of his former clubs in Dubai tomorrow and, speaking at a Press conference in the Emirates Head Quarters ahead of the game, highlighted the personal significance that the game holds for him.
“I’m excited and it will be very special because I have a great history with Milan and their Coach [Filippo Inzaghi], who was one of my players,” Ancelotti explained.
“It is a preparation match, which both sets of players understand very well, but it will be a great show for football fans.
“Madrid has a great image and we want to show that off here, where we have a reputation and great support, and it will be an honour to play against Milan because I have great memories of my time there.
“We’ve had this game on the agenda since the start of the season and in football it’s no secret you need to work hard and be professional.
“We’ll use it as preparation for our return to La Liga action and we’ll need to be focused. When a team thinks everything is going well then it can all fall apart.”
Ancelotti was linked with the bench of the Italian national team after Cesare Prandelli's resignation in the summer and is still touted as a candidate for the future, but he played down links to the Azzurri.
“My ambition is to stay at Real Madrid. I feel good in this club and with these players and I'd like to continue with them in the future.”
Rivals Atletico Madrid have officially announced that they will be welcoming back striker Fernando Torres, pending a medical examination, and the Italian Coach took the opportunity to wish him well.
“It's going to be exciting to play against Torres with Atletico. I wish Fernando the best. I've known him and coached him. I like him as a player and as a person.
“He's going back home and that can provide a great stimulation to do the best he can.”
Ancelotti revealed that all the players who have travelled to Dubai will take some part in the match and also commented on the fitness of defender Sergio Ramos.
“Everyone who is here is going to play but I can’t tell you what my starting line-up will be. Only those that have been left in Madrid won’t play, while Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Karim] Benzema will be here tomorrow.
“With Ramos we don’t know when he’ll be back but it won’t be much longer. He has trained in Madrid and we’ll know more in the next few days,” he added.
Real Madrid squad to face Milan: Casillas, Keylor Navas, Pacheco, Varane, Pepe, Coentrão, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho, D. Llorente, Khedira, Kroos, James, Bale, Illarra, Isco, M. Llorente, Ronaldo, Benzema, Chicharito, Jesé, Raúl de Tomás