Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said that his rival, Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, deserves respect and called on his players to enjoy playing against the Asian champion in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco tomorrow, Saturday, while Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz confirmed that his team will not only reach the final of the Club World Cup, but will seek to crown the title.
Ancelotti told a press conference in Rabat today, Friday, "Al-Hilal is a good team with individual capabilities, and it has many players in the Saudi national team that defeated Argentina in the World Cup, and elements with experience in Europe. Al-Hilal defeated Flamengo, and it is a respectable team."
Al-Hilal made its way to the final by first defeating Wydad, the host and African champion, on penalties, then defeated Flamengo, the South American champion, in the semi-finals, by defeating the Brazilian team 3-2.
And the Italian coach continued, "We respect the championship, it is a World Cup final, you play this type of match a few times, the winner tomorrow will be the world champion and this is a very important challenge and a valuable title because it is difficult to reach here. Real Madrid respects all finals, I ask the team to enjoy and we have a desire It's a big win because it gives us a boost for the future, it's my sixth final of this kind in 40 years, so it's a rare opportunity."
Ancelotti meets Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz for the first time, but the Italian coach remembers that he faced his Argentine rival on the field 4 decades ago in Italy.
The former Roma and Milan midfielder explained, "I faced Ramon when he was a player in Naples 40 years ago. I remember that I scored a wonderful goal. He was a distinguished, fierce and skilled striker in the air. He left a good imprint with all the teams he represented. It is our first confrontation as coaches."
beyond the final
On the other hand, Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz said that the Saudi champion will not be content with reaching the Club World Cup final, but will seek to win the title.
The veteran Argentine coach told Radio Marca, today, Friday, "We achieved a great achievement by reaching the final against Real Madrid, and we have a strong desire to play a big match, and our goal is to win."
He added, "We convey to the players' minds how to exploit all the capabilities and intelligence in the final and show tactical discipline, because we do not want to be content with playing the final. We want to adapt to Madrid's style, we will have to defend at times and attack at other times."
The former River Plate coach did not seem apprehensive about how Vinicius Jr., the Real striker, would control the most dangerous weapon of coach Carlo Ancelotti's team, and said, "I know Vinicius' capabilities well. When there is a player with these characteristics, I try to narrow the spaces in front of him and force him to move to other areas. He always likes to play on the left, I've never seen him on the right or in the depths, maybe Ancelotti should give him a lot of freedom."