Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Real Madrid have the desire and determination to overcome Juventus on Tuesday evening in order to reach the Champions League final, with a view to becoming the first team to win successive tournaments since the reformation of the old European Cup.
The Bianconeri take a slim 2-1 aggregate lead to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium after last week’s clash in Turin, but the Los Blancos Italian coach is firmly in the belief that he can reverse that result and knock out his former side.
“I see that the team is focused with a desire to win, the desire to win a great semi-final and to have the opportunity to play in another final,” Ancelotti explained to the press.
“We are trying to write another page of history because no one has ever won in two consecutive Champions League finals. History is not on our side, but we will do everything possible to win.
“In those last games against Sevilla and Valencia the team played well. Tomorrow we will have to avoid losing concentration in the details and play with intensity.
“To me it feels like any other semi-final. Our goal is to reach the final of the Champions League and we are very close. I feel the same feelings that I have experienced in the past.”
The 55-year-old then turned his attention to world record signing Gareth Bale who has been the subject of fierce criticism following recent below-par performances.
“He has had a good season,” insisted Ancelotti. “Last year he scored important goals, including in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League finals.”
“We are happy with him. Perhaps, too many people talk too much. His agent speaks without ever seeing him train and he does not know our environment. No one has ever had any problems with him in the locker room. I’ve talked to him many times and he is happy to be here.
“He has no problems and does not share the views of his agent. It would have been better if he had remained silent, but as I said, people talk too much.”
Jonathan Barnett, who represents the Welshman, claimed over the weekend that Bale’s slump in form was the result of a reluctance amongst his team mates to pass him the ball.
