After the humiliation against FC Barcelona in La Liga (0-4) and the disappointment of the 2024 Ballon d’Or not awarded to Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid hosts AC Milan this Tuesday in the Champions League (9 p.m.). The Madrilenians, who did not play during the weekend due to floods in Spain, prepared for the meeting with a week full of intensity.
What better way to bounce back than a home shock against AC Milan? After the heavy defeat suffered during the clasico against Barça in La Liga (0-4), and the frustration of not seeing Vinicius Jr win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid returns to competition against the Rossoneri this Tuesday in the League. champions (9 p.m.). Ten days after his last match.
Last weekend, the serious floods that devastated Spain caused the postponement of the planned trip to Valencia. Even if football “takes a back seat” according to Carlo Ancelotti, the Merengue will still be expected at the Bernabeu. Everyone is aware that a new defeat, after the correction received at home against FC Barcelona, would cause an outcry in the press and among supporters.
High intensity in training
Carlo Ancelotti preferred not to talk about football during his last press conference, but behind the scenes, the Italian technician is nevertheless happy with his group’s training in recent days. A good week in Valdebebas, during which the players worked with particular intensity.
It was the staff who scheduled and conducted sessions that were more demanding than usual. The absence of a match last weekend allowed the entire group to put in a full week of work, which had not happened since the very start of the season. A rare opportunity for Ancelotti and his assistants, like the players, to make adjustments. Especially since only Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba were missing. Since the clasico, the Madrid squad has therefore had time to work. Time also for certain players to regain a better physical level, in order to arrive in good condition to face AC Milan.
A restaurant between players
Despite the slap received against Barça, the group remained united. Good humor still reigns within the Real locker room, and the players met on Friday evening at Leña, a prestigious gourmet restaurant, according to Relevo. “Together,” wrote Vinicius Jr. after his second place in the Ballon d’Or behind Rodri, posting a photo of the Madrid squad. Together, they will seek to regain victory against AC Milan, the second most successful team in the history of the Champions League (7). A motivation and a desire to bounce back which can also explain the involvement of the players in training in recent days.
Kylian Mbappé must respond on the pitch after his last failed match against the Barcelona team. In training, his quality is always felt. His good humor too. He must now erase his eight offside positions against Barça with a great performance against the Milanese. After the match against Osasuna at the end of the week in the league, the captain of the Blues will fly to Clairefontaine to join the France team. And it would be wise to dispel the growing doubts of certain supporters between now and then.
