Ancelotti: “There will be no more transfers, the squad is settled”

Speaking in his first press conference of the 2024/25 season, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media at Soldier Field to say that there would be no more signings, explaining, “the squad is settled. Vallejo is back, Alaba is recovering. We have the youngsters: Joan, Jacobo and Raúl Asencio. There are no departures because they all want to stay.”

The coach also addressed a question from Managing Madrid’s Kiyan Sobhani, reflecting on the 2023/24 campaign to say, “the season was fantastic. We were able to create a good team spirit, to overcome injuries. They forced us to improve our collective spirit. Like Fran García, like Joselu. All the players who were not in the starting eleven supported the team a lot.”

Ancelotti on the focus in pre-season

“It’s a bit particular. Little by little we are seeing the players. At the moment we have worked well and evaluated the youngsters from the youth academy. Everyone who arrives is in good shape. It’s not like before, now the player arrives prepared. We love to evaluate the youth players. We have a lot of quality and it’s a good time for them.”

Ancelotti on his biggest concern

“The truth is that I’m not worried. Because we have a spectacular squad in all positions. Mbappé has joined, which is fantastic. As I said, we don’t have much time to prepare for the first few games, but the players will come back in good shape. They have a programme that starts 15 days before they arrive. The most important thing is to rest. The whole group comes back on the seventh. The concern... We are missing Kroos, but we have all the possibilities to replace him. Not like him, because he has a lot of quality, but we have a lot of resources.”

Ancelotti on the tactical impact of Kroos’ departure

“Vertical play is what we also wanted with Kroos. If you get into the opposition half quickly you have more chances to create problems for the opposition. Where will Bellingham play? The closer he is to the box the better. We have Modric, Tchoaumeni, Valverde. We have the idea to defend well and repeat what we did well last year.”

Ancelotti on Endrick

“He is very young, very powerful, very fast. I’m not going to ask too much of him because we have to bear in mind that it’s an exciting time for him. He will play 45 minutes tomorrow. We are delighted to have him with us.”

Ancelotti on Rüdiger’s training tackles on Endrick

“Nothing happened. If he said anything to him, I don’t know. Antonio is a fantastic player and a great teammate.”

Ancelotti on his message to youth players

“They are very focused. They want to learn, to listen, to improve. Coaching them, for me, is very nice. I like them all. They all have quality. I don’t know if they will play for Real Madrid, but they have a future.”

Ancelotti on how Real Madrid stays at the top

“There are many things. This club has built a project, thanks to the history and the people who govern. The president and the general manager have built a spectacular squad. It is the key for Madrid to be the best club in the world.”

Ancelotti on Javier Aguirre becoming Mexico coach and his chance to join Brazil

“I have a very good relationship with Javier and I wish him all the best. He has a great opportunity to prepare well for the World Cup, at home. I will be a fan of Mexico, as I was at the World Cup in Russia. The Brazil thing is something from last year.”

Ancelotti on a possible change in system

“The system we are going to use can be a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2. Like we did last year. Sometimes it was 4-2-3-1.... We have the resources to use those systems.”

Ancelotti on playing as many as 72 games

“The season can be long, hopefully it will be. That’s what we want when a season starts, to be competitive. We don’t have a specific physical plan, because it’s very complicated to think about a physical plan when you play every three days. We have always been very good at the end of the year and this season I think it will be the same. We have to think about individual breaks, so as not to exhaust the players.”

Ancelotti on Milan

“Milan is doing a good job. I wish them all the best. I have very good memories. The Milanisti miss Paolo Maldini, but this is football. They have signed a fantastic striker like Morata, Camarda is very good. It will be a game for the youngsters.”

Ancelotti on the Super Cup

“The Super Cup is a bit far away and we are concentrating on the players we have now. We have a very good team, even if we still have players on holiday.”