Carlo Ancelotti and his Real Madrid squad are poised for a chance to secure their second title of the season on Wednesday evening as they face Pachuca in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Speaking from Doha, Qatar, where the event will be held, Ancelotti addressed various topics, including team dynamics, his personal milestones, and the fitness of star forward Kylian Mbappé.
Responding to speculation about his control over the dressing room, the Italian coach dismissed the notion with confidence. “You’re asking me if I’ve lost control (laughs). A tough question… I haven’t lost it, of course not. In football, you go through difficult moments—it always happens. Sometimes they come in October-November, sometimes in April-May,” he explained.
Ancelotti emphasized the importance of resilience during challenging periods. “The important thing is to be there, to keep going. If it happens in October-November, you can still recover, and we are doing that. I am sure we will be very competitive in the second part of the season. I can assure you that I haven’t lost control,” he stated.
When asked about the possibility of surpassing Miguel Munoz to become the most decorated coach in Real Madrid’s history, Ancelotti expressed his gratitude and ambition. “It’s something important, of course, to achieve this success. It’s a sign that I’ve done a good job, I think I’ve done it, but I want to continue. It is an honour to be compared to Miguel Munoz and the rest of the coaches who have had the good fortune to manage the biggest club in the world,” he said.
On Kylian Mbappé’s condition, Ancelotti offered an optimistic update. The French forward traveled to Qatar despite an injury, raising questions about his readiness for the match. “It’s simple: yesterday, he trained well, he had a good feeling. He did sprints, and everything went well. Today is an important training session where we will evaluate the sensations and the risk. If he is fine, talking to the doctors, he will play. If there is a minimum risk, obviously not, but the sensations yesterday were very good. We are optimistic,” the coach revealed.
Real Madrid fans will be eager to see whether Mbappé takes the field and whether Ancelotti’s confidence translates into another triumph for the Spanish giants on the global stage.
