Ancelotti happy with counter-attacking style
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he is happy for his side to continue with the counter-attacking style they have used to great effect in recent seasons.
Madrid’s pace and ruthlessness on the break was on full show as they scored five times in the final 35 minutes on their way to a 6-1 hammering of Galatasaray in their Champions League opener.
And despite previously suggesting he would like his Real side to have a style more based on possession, Ancelotti acknowledged that he can’t ignore the qualities that his players have on the break.
“I can’t go against the quality of my players, if we find the solution in three passes rather than 30 then we will do it,” he told a press conference on Saturday. “We will look for quick attacks, we have players with a lot of quality on the counter-attack.”
One of those who benefits most from playing on the break is Cristiano Ronaldo.
And Ancelotti hailed the Portuguese as an example to the rest of the players in the squad. “He is a fantastic professional. He is very focused in the training sessions, even before and after them he works hard to recuperate. He is a very good example for the rest, above all for the young players. He has a lot of quality and is very professional.”
Ancelotti is expected to hand Gareth Bale his first taste of action at the Santiago Bernabeu from the start against Getafe on Sunday. JUVENTUS DROP BUFFON FOR VERONA GAME
ROME: Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has been dropped for the Serie A cham pions’ match against Hellas Verona on Sunday, manager Antonio Conte said on Saturday “I can confirm that Marco Storari will start (in place of Buffon). It’s a normal rotation that we also did last year,” Conte said. “Buffon is coming from international duty and we have another four games in quick suc cession ahead of us, so together with him and the fitness coaches we decided to rest him.”
NUREMBERG END DORTMUND STREAK BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund struggled to a 1-1 draw at Nuremberg on Saturday that ended their perfect start to the season of five straight league wins. Despite several changes to the team that lost 2-1 at Napoli in the Champions League in midweek, Dortmund, who stay top of the Bundesliga table with 16 points, were initially the bet ter side. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a fierce free kick from Marcel Schmelzer. Nuremberg grew bolder in the second half and secured an equaliser in the 51st minute with Per Nilsson’s close range effort .