Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti joked about a situation on Saturday when he phoned Jude Bellingham to ask him about his fitness and the England midfielder did not respond to his coach's call, but did respond to his team-mate Vinicius Junior's call. "We are in contact," acknowledged Ancelotti, asked about the seven players in his squad who have yet to join the pre-season squad on the North American tour and will do so this week in the Spanish capital. "I was angry with Bellingham because I called him and he didn't answer me. I told Vinicius to call him and he answered," the Italian coach laughed.

Ancelotti praised the physical level with which Vinicius Junior has returned, convinced that it will be the same as that shown by the six players still on holiday after the European Championship and Fede Valverde after playing in the Copa America. "Vinicius played his last game on July 6th, a month ago. He rested for 15 days and after that he started to work. Now, it's not like when I was a player, when I spent a month doing nothing and arrived fat. He's fine, he's back in shape and he needs playing time", he said.

In his case, the Italian coach acknowledged that what he needs is time to work with his entire squad from Wednesday, when he will be able to count on all his players on their return to Madrid. "When everyone returns, we need to work together and create an atmosphere before the first game," he said. He will have less than a week before the European Super Cup final against Atalanta on 14th August.

"I can assure you that we will compete with the squad we have. We can fight for all seven titles. The schedule demands a lot, but we have the quality to compete for everything, that's what the club demands," he said. "The European Super Cup has to be played by those who have won the Champions League. There are two missing, Kroos and Nacho. Let's see who will replace them," he added, acknowledging that many of the players who will join later will be starters.

 

August 4, 2024