Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said they will not suffer the same mistakes they committed in the last El Clasico. This comes ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated Copa Del Rey semifinal matchup against eternal rivals Barcelona.
March will be a crucial month for both sides as the La Liga title race is heating up and Copa Del Rey is back. Barca and Real will face each other three times in the following month, with tonight the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semis at Santiago Bernabeu.
In the last El Clasico, both rivals faced each other in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Barca won the final 3-1 thanks to goals from Gavi, Lewandowski, and Pedri.
It was Xavi’s first trophy since arriving in Barcelona and they are still in contention for completing a domestic treble this season.
Individual mistakes cost them heavily during the last matchup in the Super Cup final, but Ancelotti vows that these mistakes won’t happen tonight.
What did Carlo Ancelotti say ahead of the El Clásico?
Speaking in a press conference before the match, Ancelotti spoke of the last El Clasico, “In the Super Cup we lacked commitment, with individual mistakes that will not be repeated, we are close to winning an important competition and we will compete.”
“It’s not a decisive game, but we want to take advantage. We do not have the desire for a rematch of the Super Cup, but because we are close to a title, the boiler rises in temperature”, he added.
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Ancelotti believes that slight progress has been made compared to last year, with Madrid continuing on three fronts as they also hold a first-leg advantage over Liverpool in the Champions League last 16.
🎙| Carlo Ancelotti: “Revenge vs Barcelona? In the Super Cup, we were full of mistakes. We won't do that again.” #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) March 1, 2023
Ancelotti also further said that he believes they have made more progress compared to last season, with them still competing for three important trophies.
“So far, I have said that, compared to last year, we have two points less in La Liga. But we were also out of the Copa del Rey, we’re not much better off than last year; we’re where we deserved to be”, stated the Los Blancos boss.
“But now comes the good stuff. We’ve got to March competing in all competitions. Let’s see if we can win something”, he insisted.
Madrid and Ancelotti will be hoping to get a victory over their rivals tonight and gain an advantage in the Copa Del Rey semi final tie.
With the Clásico kicking-off in a few hours, which side are you vouching for in the tie? Will the Blancos come out on top or will the Catalans drive against all odds at their favorite ground? Drop your predictions for tonight.
