Ancelotti on Tchouaméni’s chances of a starting place at Real Madrid
The Italian coach was asked if the signing of the young French pearl would be a starter. Ancelotti left this great answer.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti attended the media in Valdebebas on Friday and looked ahead to the upcoming tour of the United States. Madrid fly out to the US on Tuesday and will face Barcelona in Las Vegas in the third Clásico to be played outside of Spain on 24 July. Ancelotti told reports that he is happy with the reinforcements made to his squad and he is looking forward to the Barça game. “It’s never a friendly against Barcelona - they are the team that we have the most respect for, and the biggest rivalry. That we are facing Barça so early in the season is good. I think it’s going to be a highly competitive game, in which both teams will want to win. And it’ll be a great game to watch too - as it always is”.
Ancelotti said that he is delighted with the two signings Madrid made this summer. “Tchouaméni and Rüdiger will bring quality to the squad because, they were the best players in their positions who were available on the market. Rüdiger is a great centre-back - who can play in several different positions. And Tchouaméni is the same. He’s very young and he’s got time to develop and a great future ahead of him. He’s also a key player for France. So we will make the most of this tour to help them to adapt to our squad, and we will adapt to the qualities which they have”.
When asked about Tchouaméni’s chances of being a regular starter, the Italian replied, “In today’s game, and especially here at Real Madrid, the meaning of the word ‘starter’ means a player who will play the next game because after the game, there will be other players who are ‘starters’ too. The competition for places within the squad is the key to our success and maintaining a high level of motivation right the way through the group”.