Carlo Ancelotti: I’m happy with season so far but there’s a long way to go
Carlo Ancelotti knows Real Madrid still have a long way to go if they are to achieve their targets for the season.
Los Blancos host Villarreal at the Bernabeu on Sunday looking to keep up the pressure at the top of LaLiga, with surprise leaders Girona not in action until Monday night.
Having secured safe passage through to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a perfect group record, Ancelotti wants full focus on the last two games before the Christmas break.
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“We are up against a well-organised, well-prepared team, but we are on a great run, the results reflect that,” Ancelotti said.
“The atmosphere is good, there’s a good mood around the place and the players are motivated.
“We want to finish the first half of the season strongly, we’ve done really well so far.
“We’ve managed the first part of the campaign well, despite all the problems we’ve had. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have faith in the campaign.
“I’m pleased with what we’ve done to this point, but well aware of what is still to come because it’s a long season – there are still six months to go.”
Ancelotti’s current deal runs through to the end of the season and the veteran Italian coach has been linked with a switch to take over Brazil’s national team.
For the moment, though, the 64-year-old is just concentrating on the job in hand.
“Being Real Madrid coach is the most important thing. I hope the players will give me a Christmas present by winning the last couple of games so we can have a relaxed festive period,” Ancelotti said at a press conference.
“If the club is happy then I am too. There is no rush to renew my deal, it’s not a problem. We are here until 30 June 2024.”
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Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is fit again after a thigh injury and started the Champions League win at Union Berlin on Tuesday night ahead of Ukrainian Andriy Lunin.
“I have decided (who will play against Villarreal), but I haven’t spoken to them yet. I want them to hear it from me before finding out in the press,” Ancelotti said.
“The good thing is that they make it hard for me because they are both in such great form.”
Villarreal head coach Marcelino, who returned to the club last month, knows his side will have to try to shackle “extraordinary” England midfielder Jude Bellingham if they are to leave the Bernabeu with a positive result.
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“He is the player who has given the best performance in all of Europe,” Marcelino said at a press conference.
“We will try not to let him get involved too much. It will be difficult because he has a lot of participation in most of the pitch, especially in the final third.
“He is accompanied by players of great quality like Rodrygo.
“We are going to need to be strong collectively to reduce their influence on the game.”
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Alonso wary of Kiel threat ahead of landmark Leverkusen outing
Xabi Alonso hopes to mark his 100th game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen with a victory, but the Spaniard is not underestimating bottom club Holstein Kiel.
Alonso led his side to a win over Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the Bundesliga champions one of only seven teams with a perfect record in the competition so far.
But their fortunes in the league have been much different, taking 10 points from their opening five games, the latest of which ended in a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen's start to the campaign is the worst by a reigning champion in 12 years since Borussia Dortmund managed eight points after the first five games in 2012-13.
But Alonso, who has won 67 of 99 games in charge of Die Werkself, is wary of the threat this weekend's opponents provide despite their league position.
"Every league match is tough, and we have learned that this season already," Alonso said.
"We expect the same tomorrow. They only have a point but deserve a bit more than what they have at the moment."
"In our heads and our preparation, it is only Kiel. We have full respect. They are a good opponent, very flexible in their lineup.
"I expect to see my team to be mature and intelligent. We have to show that we are fully prepared.
"My team plays with the same motivation in every game, so I have no reason to doubt them, and we will hopefully show it tomorrow."
Many of Leverkusen's problems this term have come from defence, a part of their side that was crucial in their domestic double last season.
Die Werkself conceded just 24 times last campaign, 15 less than Stuttgart in second place.
Leverkusen have already conceded six goals in their last two Bundesliga games at the BayArena, as many as they let in across their previous 12 home matches combined.
Only 1. FC Koln in 1964-65 conceded as many goals in their first two home games as champions.
And with a total of 10 goals conceded from their first five games, Leverkusen has the worst defence of a reigning champion since Wolfsburg in 2009/10 (11).
Alonso stressed the importance of improving defensively, and he is confident that a win and a clean sheet will give his side a solid foundation to build on after the international break.
"If we win then we will have had a good phase (until the international break)," Alonso said.
"Then we can prepare for the next block of matches. It was important that we are defending a bit better than we had been last month.
"That is something we need. Without it, we are not competitive, and we want to be competitive."
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Ja's Cavalier, Haiti's Real Hope confirm Carib Cup semis berths with 4-1 and 2-0 wins over Arnett Gardens, Mount Pleasant
Jamaica’s Cavalier FC and Haitian outfit Real Hope FC confirmed their spots in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals after comfortable 4-1 and 2-0 wins over Jamaican clubs Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant FA in their final Group A fixtures on Thursday.
A brace from Jalmaro Calvin (35th and 71st) and one each from Shaquille Stein (29th) and Dwayne ‘Busy’ Atkinson (59th) brought Cavalier from behind to top Arnett Gardens, who took an early ninth-minute lead through captain Shai Smith.
With the win, Cavalier, the reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions, consolidated the top spot with nine points, one ahead of Real Hope, who had a brace from Angelo Exilus (12th and 77th) to deny Mount Pleasant in the battle for the runner-up position.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC (five points), Mount Pleasant (four points), and Arnett Gardens (one point) completed the table.
Cavalier will square off against Dominican Republic’s Moca FC in one semi-final, while Real Hope will lock horns against the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC, in the other. The semifinal date is yet to be confirmed.
Despite already having a spot in the final four, Cavalier FC were in no mood to relent and duly took apart Arnett Gardens at the National Stadium.
It was Arnett Gardens though that showed more purpose at the start as they sought to salvage some pride to end their campaign on a high. The ‘Junglists’ seemed on their way to achieving that feat when Smith connected with a pass from Marlon Allen and fired past Vino Barclett inside 10 minutes.
However, Xavier Gilbert’s side lost focus after taking the lead and were completely outplayed by Cavalier, who pulled level through Stein, who met Atkinson’s corner kick and slotted home at Roje Williams’ near post.