Frank Christian
Carlo Ancelotti gave a direct reply when asked if he felt “nervous” about facing Barcelona in the upcoming Clasico.
The Champions, Real Madrid, will face current La Liga leaders Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, promising a thrilling matchup, especially considering the teams’ performances in Europe this week.
Barcelona convincingly defeated Bayern Munich 4-1, just a day after Madrid made a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to win 5-2 against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. This sets the stage for a potentially exciting clash between the top Spanish clubs.
Barcelona has shown impressive form under Hansi Flick in these initial months, bringing a renewed determination and confidence to the squad after a challenging period with the former coach Xavi, who left the position shortly after committing to stay.
When asked if facing this Barcelona team was keeping him up at night ahead of Saturday’s match, Ancelotti remained his calm self.
Ancelotti on Barcelona: ‘No Sleepless Nights’
During a press conference on Friday, Ancelotti was questioned about his level of concern regarding Flick’s Barcelona, and if they were causing him any sleepless nights.
“Fortunately, I’m not losing sleep over it right now,” he added.
He went on to explain, “Anything can happen; it’s more than just skill. It’s about managing the game’s pressures and pivotal moments, where we will both have periods of control. Timing management is key to achieving success in this match.”
When asked if he had a specific strategy prepared, he said, “I do have a plan, but I don’t see it as suitable to share it today. We’ll see how it plays out tomorrow, and you can tell me afterward if I was correct or not.”
