![](https://madriduniversal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/real-madrid-cf-v-villarreal-cf-laliga-ea-sports-4-scaled.jpg)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
When Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid square off in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid will come into the match with the goal of bringing themselves one step closer to achieving their first championship of the 2023–2024 season.
The fact that Los Blancos were defeated by Barcelona in the tournament’s finals the previous year means that they will be keen to go the distance this time around. However, the first obstacle that they will face is Diego Simeone and his team.
The fact that the Colchoneros are the only club to have defeated Real Madrid so far this season is something that is sure to be on the minds of Carlo Ancelotti and his side.
Following the demise of football icon Franz Beckenbauer, Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media from Riyadh in advance of the important game that will take place tomorrow. He began his remarks by expressing his sympathies to the whole football community.
“Before I begin, I would want to take a moment to reflect on two individuals who have passed away in recent times. Zagallo is one of them, while Beckenbauer is the other. There are a lot of positive things that both of them have left behind, and I wanted to recognize them,” the manager of Real Madrid remarked.
After suffering a defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti was questioned about whether or not Real Madrid were looking forward to exacting their retribution tomorrow.
In addition to the fact that we are eagerly anticipating this match, we are also eager to compete for the trophy. There will be a lot of closeness and competition in the game that we play versus Atlético.
There was a lot of harm done to us in the most recent game that we played against Atlético, and I believe that we are capable of improving our version and beating them.
When it comes to the Super Cup semi-final, the most important issue that has to be answered is whether or not Carlo Ancelotti will start Andriy Lunin or Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. “Kepa or Lunin will play tomorrow, but I don’t want to say it today,” he remarked in response to the situation with the following statement:
Having also been drawn against Atletico in the round of sixteen of the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid will be playing their neighbors three times within the span of a month. Additionally, they will be playing Atletico in a La Liga match in the beginning of February.
“There is no way to change the calendar. There is a match versus Atlético Madrid, and we are required to participate. When it comes to meeting this squad, I personally do not like doing so, but they share my sentiments. With absolute certainty, the supporters are going to take pleasure in it, as mentioned by Ancelotti.
After that, the manager of Real Madrid saved his admiration for the midfielder Federico Valverde, underlining his talent and adaptability by saying:
Valverde is a versatile football player who can play the game in a variety of different ways. Being able to play both as a winger and as a pivot, he is a very valuable player. It is really uncommon to come across a midfielder on the market that has such a profile, and we are extremely fortunate to acquire him.
His character has to be strengthened, and he has room for improvement. The profile that he has is, in a sense, positive; nonetheless, there are occasions when having a little bit of arrogance may make you stronger. He is really modest.
In spite of the fact that Valverde and Toni Kroos have lately developed a powerful relationship in the middle of the field, Carlo Ancelotti has underlined that he has other choices who are capable of walking into the lineup.
Due to the fact that Tchouaméni and Camavinga have returned, I now have a lot more alternatives available to me, which means that the coupling of Valverde and Kroos may be broken.
When asked about his counterpart at Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, who had just signed a new deal, Carlo Ancelotti made the following remark:
“As an outside observer, I believe that Simeone feels very well in the environment at Atlético, and I feel very well in this environment at Real Madrid,” I said. He exemplifies the perfect profile.
Ancelotti continued by saying, “I have a relationship of respect with Simeone.” This was in reference to his connection with Simeone, the manager of Atletico Madrid. Because we have competed against one other on several occasions, we are familiar with one another.
When he was playing for Lazio, he scored a goal against me so that Juventus could win the league. I was coaching Juventus at the time. We live in the same neighborhood, and we do sometimes run into one other and converse.
If Los Blancos were to win tomorrow, they would be able to secure a berth in the final, where they may play either Barcelona or Osasuna. In reference to the possibility of taking on the Blaugrana, Ancelotti made the following statement:
It is my understanding that Barcelona is a team that consistently competes, and that we must show respect for them. In the past, they have been and will continue to be a formidable competitor.
There were also words of admiration for Antonio Rudiger, who is now in excellent form as a defender. Ancelotti added, “Rudiger is very attentive and very focused.” Not only does he possess a multitude of characteristics, but he also has a great deal of defensive expertise and experience. The fact that he is a pessimist, in the sense that he is constantly thinking that something disastrous may occur, is his most admirable trait.
“No, it is not true that I have had offers from clubs in Arabia,” he replied in response to a question about whether or not he has received opportunities from Saudi Arabia. It has been completely forgotten by them.