Ancelotti: "I understand Atlético's complaints; it happens to us too, mostly against them"

Carlo Ancelotti showed understanding towards Atlético de Madrid's complaints about the difference in rest days before the derby. The Real Madrid coach acknowledged the difficulty of competing with the disadvantage of having 48 hours less recovery time: "I understand. It has happened to us many times, mostly against Atlético," said the Italian ahead of the match against the rojiblanco team, corresponding to the eighth round of La Liga.

Regarding squad news, Eduardo Camavinga's return stands out, as he had been absent after suffering a sprain in the internal collateral ligament of his left knee. This injury kept him out of the European Super Cup final and has prevented him from debuting this season. Ancelotti confirmed that the young midfielder will be available for the next match, hinting that he could play an important role: "Camavinga is available, he has recovered well. When one is available, they can play 90 minutes or none," he commented, leaving open the possibility that he will have minutes and be key in the match.

Another concern for the coach ahead of the derby is the high number of yellow cards received for protesting, a problem he seeks to address. "We have talked about it. We have seen too many yellow cards for protesting. The only way is to avoid unnecessary protests," Ancelotti emphasized, aware that controlling this aspect will be crucial not to harm the team in such an important match.

He also supported the Brazilian in his bid for the Ballon d'Or: "I think he will win it. If he doesn't win it (smiles), we will move on...," he added with a touch of humor. Regarding the tactical approach for the derby, Ancelotti indicated that Kylian Mbappé's absence might bring some adjustments, but the essence of the team will not change: "Without Mbappé it changes a bit, but not much," he explained, highlighting that solidarity and commitment on the field will remain key.

The hostile atmosphere usually experienced at the Metropolitano does not worry the coach, who believes that the team has learned from last year's defeat: "That defeat woke us up and we improved defensively," he stated, confident that the experience gained will allow the team to better face this year's challenge.