Riyadh: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his team was the essence of the counter-attack team, the style he stated his own “happy” with ahead of their meeting with Bilbao athletics in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh on Sunday.
Real eternal rivals Barcelona 3-2 in extra time in the semi-finals on Wednesday to book their place in the final Sunday.
“Our counterattack against Barcelona was not a long ball counter-attack, they were built with three or four low and short trajectories.
They were held, done very well.
We have six players in the Barcelona box when we scored our last goal.
It was brilliant,” said Italy told a press conference in Riyadh.
“People say that we play with a counterattack? I love playing with a counterattack like that.” Ancelotti also said he had never imagined the second spell and trained the side before another final, after he left the club in 2015.
The 62-year-old child was responsible when Real won their 10th Champions League trophy in 2014, and he left the club In 2015.
“I will never imagine that I will be here again and here I am, seven years later, very happy to go through this moment,” Ancelotti said.
“Playing the final with this club is always special because it’s in their essence.
They are used to being in a game like this.” After defeating Barcelona, Ancelotti said his team was preparing “a completely different match against a completely different rival” in athletic.
“Our plan needs to change, our team knows how to adapt to different situations.
We are not married to a certain style,” Ancelotti said.
“Athletics are a very tough team and well-built.
Their coach is the one I really admire, Marcelino García.
He always knows how to control small details.
His team is always well organized and they never give up.” Athletic coach Garcia said his team was ready for a difficult task in the final, following a 2-1 semifinal victory from-from-behind against Atletico Madrid.
“Real Madrid counter-attack is very good because they have a very strong midfield and two players in front of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior who is very firm,” he said at a press conference.
“They are the most formed team in Spain, and we must be on our top form to defeat them.
But we are a difficult team to play, and will leave everything in the field.”
Ancelotti ‘happy’ with real Madrid counter-attack games
