Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti insists facing Juventus in the Champions League semi-final does not have an extra edge.
Ancelotti was sacked by the Turin giants in 2001 after consecutive second-placed finishes, but doesn’t feel that will have a bearing on tomorrow’s game.
“To me, it feels like all the other semi-finals,” Ancelotti told assembled media in his pre-match Press conference.
“Our goal is to reach the final of the Champions League, and we’re very close. I feel the same feeling that I have in the past.
Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti insists facing Juventus in the Champions League semi-final does not have an extra edge.
Ancelotti was sacked by the Turin giants in 2001 after consecutive second-placed finishes, but doesn’t feel that will have a bearing on tomorrow’s game.
“To me, it feels like all the other semi-finals,” Ancelotti told assembled media in his pre-match Press conference.
“Our goal is to reach the final of the Champions League, and we’re very close. I feel the same feeling that I have in the past.
“Tomorrow we want to make history, the Bernabeu and the players will have to be one.
“It affects everyone when the fans whistle a player.
“Casillas? He’s repeated many times that he wants to stay here, he has the confidence of everyone: the Coach, his teammates and the club.
“It saddens me of course [Casillas being whistled], but I know that Casillas has a lot of experience and is prepared.
“These kind of things only motivate him more.”
Another Merengues player who has received criticism is Gareth Bale, with the Welshman’s agent claiming recently that his teammates do not pass him the ball.
“He [Bale] has had a good season. Last year he scored in the final of the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League, as well as other important moments.
“We’re happy with him. A lot of people talk, perhaps too much.
“His agent speaks without ever seeing a training session, without knowing the environment here. No-one in the dressing room has a problem with him.
“I’ve talked to him many times, he’s happy to be here. He has no problem, and he doesn’t think the same way his agent does.
“It would have been better if he [the agent, Jonathan Barnett] had stayed silent, but as I said, some people talk too much.”