Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will field his best possible line up – injuries, recoveries and suspensions considered – against Bayern Munich for a mouthwatering Champions League semifinal first leg tie on Tuesday.
In his prematch press conference, Ancelotti said that his team will face the match in Bavaria “with confidence” while knowing “that they are facing an opponent with quality, tools and very strong individuals”.
“We are happy to be here because few, even in this room, thought that I would make it to this press conference and here I am. From there, [there is] confidence to play in a semi-final that could take us to another Champions League final. But let’s not forget that this [two-legged tie] lasts 180 minutes,” the Italian insisted.
As always, Ancelotti was tight-lipped on his line up. He confirmed that Aurelien Tchouameni would play at the Allianz Arena but added, “Where? I don’t know”, which caused laughter among reporters present.
The Frenchman will start in the heart of the backline with Antonio Rudiger, however, as Eder Militao is still not strong enough to start a fixture of such magnitude from the get-go.
With Dani Carvajal suspended, Lucas Vazquez is the right back while Ferland Mendy is on the other flank.
In midfield, it is a double pivot of Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga. Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde fill the more attacking positions, as Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo are the pair of wingers fielded as strikers.
Considering there is such individual talent on either side of the ball, Ancelotti insisted that “the most important role is never that of the coach”.
“It is very clear to me that there are two types of coaches: those who do nothing and those who do a lot of damage. I try to be at the other.
“The game belongs to the players and you can tell them a certain strategy, convince them, but then what is decisive is their quality and commitment. A coach has to focus on the group understanding the importance of teamwork.”
Real Madrid Vs. Bayern Munich First XI: Lunin; Mendy, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Vazquez; Camavinga, Kroos, Bellingham, Valverde; Vinicius, Rodrygo