Riyadh: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team are still hungry for success ahead of their Spanish Super Cup final showdown against rivals Barcelona on Sunday for the first piece of silverware of the season in Spanish football
The Catalans failed to win a trophy last season and are looking for their first since coach Xavi arrived in November 2021, while Real Madrid won a Champions League and La Liga double.
The sides meet in a Clasico at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ancelotti thinks his players will be equally motivated, despite their success.
Demanding club
“We are talking about players that started winning in 2013, have kept winning and have never filled their stomachs and they never will fill them,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“We are at a very demanding club that doesn’t allow you to think your stomach is full.”
The historic match remains unmissable with headline acts Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski supported by a stellar cast of emerging talent including Eduardo Camavinga, Pedri and Gavi.
There is no doubt that the legendary clubs are once again the pre-eminent forces in Spain and Sunday’s meeting promises to be a captivating affair as both look to lay down a marker.
Madrid are the record 14 time-Champions League winners, with five of those trophies arriving from 2014 onwards.
“All titles are important for this club, titles give motivation, confidence, there’s a lot at stake in this game,” continued Ancelotti.
Major doubt
“We fight each day for this, to get to a final. The team is motivated and comfortable too, because we are used to playing under this type of pressure, that’s why we have a lot of confidence.”
Ancelotti has a couple of headches for the final. Eder Militao suffered a concussion during their semi final and is a major doubt for the game. Lucas Vazquez will also miss the game through injury. Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba are ruled out too, while Alvaro Odriozola is a doubt.
For Barca boss Xavi Hernandez there are no injury concerns but he could be tempted into making a few changes with some of his players underperforming against Betis. Ousmane Dembele was taken off just after the hour mark on Thursday, but that was just as a precaution.
