Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that some altogether considerable alterations could be on the cards in his chosen line-up to face Manchester City on Wednesday.
This comes as the Italian considers shaking things up both in his backline, and midfield.
In the 2nd leg of the club’s Champions League playoff tie with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Los Blancos will welcome the Sky Blues to Spain’s capital.
Real head into the matchup boasting the advantage, owing to a comeback 3-2 triumph at The Etihad last week.
Despite as much, though, changes to the side which got the job done in the first leg could well be on the cards on Wednesday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti hinted that Antonio Rüdiger could step straight back into the Spanish champions’ backline, pushing Aurélien Tchouaméni back into his natural berth in the middle of the park:
Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois spoke to Rio Ferdinand recently, where he was asked about all sorts of things around the club and the player. They talked about Toni Kroos and the gap he has left in Real Madrid, to which Courtois said: “Toni Kroos always knew what to do. Left foot, right foot, he already knew before he received the ball where he’ll pass it. I think we miss him this year.”
“I knew Vini Jr was going to be good before, but I didn’t think he’d be that great. The only guy who told me, ‘You’ll see in a few years’ was Eden Hazard. He told me straight away when he saw him. He felt that he had something special.”
Courtois on racial abuse
“I love a nice atmosphere in the stadium, I love a little bit of rivalry, but if you see what we have to hear on the pitch, it’s unbelievable… it goes a bit too far. There has to be zero tolerance for racism. I think we could’ve had a stronger reaction on the pitch like in the stuff that happened vs Valencia. Like walking off.”
Courtois on the treatment that Vinicius Jr receives
“If you come to an away game we play in Spain… from the first moment they whistle at Vini, they shout, they try to kick him out of the game, to make him mad, but I think he learned to deal with it.”
Courtois on Eden Hazard
“I feel a bit sad for Eden that his dream transfer to Madrid didn’t end like he would have liked to. He was a very special player.”
Courtois on Zidane
I was shy at first… it’s Zidane. I remember when he came back I switched a lot with Keylor. In pre-season, we had a talk, and he said ‘I don’t feel like you’re with me,’ I said I feel the same because, ‘players say I won’t play, he has Keylor.’ But he said ‘No, I like you, you’re my goalkeeper.’ After that, I felt confident.
“I remember Zidane would join in the rondo’s… he would hardly be in the middle.”
