Ancelotti appeals to a more aggressive Real Madrid in Vallecas

The leader of the League visits Vallecas with a list of tasks in his pocket. “We are trying to be more intense, aggressive, press higher. I see that the team can do it”, proclaimed Carlo Ancelotti in the preview of the duel that will measure Real Madrid with a Rayo in free fall and that he has an eye on the need to overcome Betis next Thursday at the Benito Villamarín on 1 -2 recorded in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals to play the first final in its history.

The Italian has taken good note of the correction that PSG gave his squad in the Champions League and is willing to make changes to an approach that offered him good returns in the first few months of competition, but has shown cracks in recent weeks. The derby with the red-and-red team and next Saturday’s fight against Real Sociedad are the two occasions that the coach has to outline a more dominant version of his pupils before the music of the Champions League resounds again at the Santiago Bernabéu on the 9th of March.

«The story of this season is that we have started a bit with an idea, with a not very clear system. Sometimes we have defended with 4-4-2 and after the defeat against Espanyol we have tried to defend with a low block. It came out for us because we won ten games in a row and then it cost us a little more to enjoy the counterattack with the low block. We are thinking of using a slightly higher block and pressing higher to have more control even when we don’t have the ball”, Carletto outlined at the gates of a day that offers a new opportunity for the Whites to continue putting ground in between respect to Seville. On Sunday, Julen Lopetegui’s team battles it out with Betis in an abrasive derby and a stumble by Nervión’s side could trigger Real Madrid’s advantage, as long as they deliver in Vallecas.

The victory against Alavés last day was a balm after three hectic days in Chamartín due to the European setback, but the analysis of that match affected the double face of a team that once again offered a poor game in the first half and it was only unleashed with the clock tightening in the second half. Ancelotti wants the film to change in Vallecas.

The Reggiolo coach comes with the losses of Alaba and Bale. Sensitive that of the Austrian, with slight discomfort in the adductor that advises caution in view of what is coming to Real Madrid, and inconsequential that of the British, more pending his set-up to face the World Cup play-off at the end of March Qatar with Wales than anything else. Nacho will cover the Central European’s vacancy in an eleven in which Valverde, recovered from the gastroenteritis he suffered in the middle of the week, could rest Modric and accompany Kroos, whom Ancelotti hinted that he will be Casemiro’s replacement against PSG .

wet powder

Opposite will be a Rayo that has not known victory in the League so far this year and has only added one of the last eighteen points in the competition. Andoni Iraola’s team, a revelation in the first part of the campaign, has accumulated four consecutive defeats, two of them in Vallecas, which has lost the status of a stronghold that propelled the red-haired team on their return to the First Division. Although salvation is a stone’s throw away, the Usúrbil coach is looking for a turnaround that involves recovering the lost goal. Rayo have only scored two goals so far in 2022 and Falcao has not been wet since the beginning of November, when he headed Courtois to commit a victory that Real Madrid ended up fastening 2-1 at the Bernabéu.

The locals have the casualties due to injury to Martín Merquelanz and Unai López. Luca Zidane and Dimitrievski are at stake for a position between the sticks, while up front the question is whether Iraola will repeat with Sergi Guardiola as a striker or will opt for Tigre.