Carlo Ancelotti ponders on Federico Valverde dilemma ahead of Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League clash at Liverpool
Published 24/11/2024 at 22:24 GMT
Carlo Ancelotti hailed Federico Valverde, after he played a starring role in Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Leganes on Sunday in the right-back berth. Madrid are battling injury issues on the right-hand-side of their defence with Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez both out, and Ancelotti was drawn on whether Valverde will remain in defence against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
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Carlo Ancelotti will consider whether to persist with Federico Valverde at right-back in Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool on Wednesday.
Madrid face Arne Slot’s side at Anfield – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - on the back of a 3-0 La Liga victory over local rivals Leganes on Sunday.
Valverde looked adept in a deeper role as Ancelotti looked for ways to cope with the injury-enforced absences of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez.
Ancelotti could have Vazquez at his disposal for the midweek trip to Merseyside, while Aurelien Tchouameni may also return to bolster Madrid's midfield options.
Addressing his selection dilemmas after the Leganes match, Ancelotti told reporters: "This is an issue that I have to think about.
"In the middle, we are well covered because [Eduardo] Camavinga is at his best level, [Dani] Ceballos has played a very complete game, [Luka] Modric always does well.
"These are assessments that I will have to make when I have the full game [to watch back], seeing if I can recover someone for Wednesday."
Reflecting in more detail on Valverde’s performance, Ancelotti cheekily quipped that the 26-year-old is "the best full-back in the world," after Carvajal and Vazquez.
"We did very well at the back. [Raul] Asencio played a very serious game, playing very well and with maturity. Valverde is a fantastic full-back," Ancelotti added.
"After Carvajal and Lucas, the best full-back in the world. The problem is that he can play like this in many positions on the field and the problem for the coach is to choose the best position for the team. He has incredible speed."
The reigning Spanish and European champions have now won back-to-back games in La Liga, following a 4-0 victory over Osasuna on November 9.
Ancelotti continued: "Things are going well. When the team plays well it is because everyone contributes.
"Ceballos has contributed a lot in the middle. Arda [Guler] had a lot of creativity in the final third, he has been close to scoring goals, [and] he has played a complete game.
"They are players that we can count on at the moment because the demand of the matches is very high and we need everyone."
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