Carlo: I can’t take stress of another comeback!
CARLO ANCELOTTI does not want to go through another nerve-shredding match on Saturday after three dramatic revivals in Real Madrid’s epic journey to the final. ‘We don’t want another comeback. We hope it will be Liverpool who will be trying to come back,’ he said at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground yesterday. The Italian was asked which of the three knockout rounds was toughest and if he had given up on his team making it through at any point. He said: ‘In the three rounds I never thought we were out. The mental aspect was huge against Chelsea. ‘We had the advantage from the first leg and so preparing for the second leg was more difficult.’ When asked for the worst moments before a final, he said: ‘The three hours before the game are bad — the stress, the sweating, the negative thoughts. ‘I have suffered this season more than most and there are no pills that you can take, you just have to bear it.’ When Mohamed Salah’s comment that this is Liverpool’s chance to avenge their defeat by Real in 2018 was put to Ancelotti, he responded by saying: ‘It could be an extra motivation for them, but Madrid could say the same about Paris in 1981 (when Liverpool beat Real in the European Cup final). ‘We respect Salah, he’s a great player. Liverpool is a club that I respect hugely because of the way Anfield pushes its players in the same way our supporters do at the Bernabeu. ‘The problem for both clubs is that we are playing neither at Anfield nor the Bernabeu. Neither team will have the magic of their stadium. ‘And of course Liverpool had Bob Paisley who won three European Cups. I have the utmost respect for them.’ Ancelotti declared everyone fit ahead of the game and said even Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale could play. ‘The whole squad is good physically and Hazard is fine. He’s training well and he could play. Bale could also play. The fact that everyone is fit is good news.’