Sep 14, 2024,02:26am
Real Madrid won’t be able to pick either Jude Bellingham or Aurelien Tchouameni when it takes on Real Sociedad away in La Liga on Saturday night.
The news broke that the previously injured players were missing from training on Friday morning, and it was swiftly confirmed by head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Tomorrow a very demanding schedule starts,” the Italain said to kick off his prematch press conference in the Spanish capital.
“We want to start well. We have recovered some players. We always start with the enthusiasm and desire to compete. La Real is complicated and difficult, but we have a good feeling,” he added.
When probed on the Englishman and Frenchman, Ancelotti stated: “Tomorrow they are not going to play, it is too early. We’ll see if they’ll be available on Tuesday in the Champions League.”
In a 4-3-3 then, Fede Valverde will be the lone pivot providing support to Arda Guler and captain Luka Modric, who have a rare start together in the centre of the park.
Up top, it is the same attacking trident of Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo who their teammate Dani Carvajal admitted is having problems finding the right balance.
Ancelotti also publicly attested that Vinicius is “not at his best”, but he is more than content with the Brazilian.
“He is not at his best, but he is very decisive for us. We are not in any hurry. The team has scored and he’s being important. It’s my last concern,” Ancelotti stressed.
“He always works well and gives everything he has. I’m very happy with what he’s doing. I can’t think of always having everyone at 100%.”
Further back down the pitch, Ancelotti at least boasts a strong defence that contains Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy from right to left.
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Real Sociedad: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Guler, Modric; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius