Defending champion Real Madrid can count on midfield aces Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni, who were recently absent due to injury, in the first Champions League match of the new season against VfB Stuttgart. Both the Briton and the Frenchman are ready for the match on Tuesday (9 p.m./Prime Video), said coach Carlo Ancelotti before the duel at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Ancelotti stressed that he was convinced that Real had “a better squad than last season” despite the departure of Toni Kroos and other key players such as Nacho and Joselu. They had strengthened themselves with “one of the best players in the world,” said the Italian, referring to the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.
Real started the Primera División with its own problems. Mbappé has also rarely been able to make an impact recently. After five match days, the team led by German international Antonio Rüdiger is already four points behind arch-rivals FC Barcelona, coached by former national coach Hansi Flick. Despite this, Ancelotti insisted that he does not miss Kroos after his retirement. “The issue is over. Let’s look forward. Kroos cannot be replaced, but the others will do their job well. As they always have.”
Ancelotti and Carvajal praise VfB
The 65-year-old stressed that the upcoming opponent “played very well last season”. “The fact that they are here (in the Champions League) speaks for the work of their coach. They are a very good team and very well organised. I am sure that it will be an entertaining game.” After the many successes, they are still hungry for victories and titles.
Right-back Dani Carvajal also analyzed the Swabians ahead of the duel between the 15-time Champions League winners. “They are a young, courageous team that likes to keep the ball in their own ranks. We have to be patient and not fall into their traps,” said the former Leverkusen player.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240916-930-234063/1
This is a message directly from the dpa news channel.
