Carlo Ancelotti spoke in the press room at Real Madrid City after the team’s final training session before they take on Betis on matchday four of LaLiga (Sunday, 9.30 pm CEST). The coach had the following to say: “The fans will help us. We want to perform at our best. After a tough game against Las Palmas, the team is motivated to play well, to get back to playing well and to be as solid as before.”
 
“The preparation time for the games is adequate because we're used to playing with this schedule and fixing the problems as we've had before. We've talked about it, we've detected the problem and we want to produce a good response tomorrow.”
 
Is he concerned?
“Being worried isn't bad because it means you're dealing with the problem at hand. We had a problem in the last game, where we failed to have a compact block and we have to improve with better collective work. We all agree on this. I've talked to the players and they feel the same way. When the problem is clear, it's fairly easy to solve.”
 
On how to fix the problem
“It's not too complicated. We have to defend better and as I said it's a collective commitment and a collective attitude. Now we've had a more individual attitude and we have to work together to win the ball back. We've conceded two goals in five games but we feel that it's difficult for us to win the ball back and the opposition has got between the lines too much and that's something we're going to fix.”
 
On the league table
“It's one detail. What has affected us the most is the games in which we haven't been able to play our best, it's not the four points from the top because the season is very long. We're not happy because we're four points behind, but that’s because we haven't played well.”
 
Are there doubts about how the team has to play?
"Absolutely not. We've only just started, taking into account all the difficulties. We've worked little together but we'll gradually fix the problem, we'll be more competitive and there's no doubt about that.”
 
On the penalty taker decision
"They have to make that decision.”
 
Ceballos’ situation
“He’s stayed here. We're all pleased and excited because he's an important player for us. He hasn't had the playing time he probably wanted, needed or deserved but we're happy he's stayed. He's a very serious professional and it's good for us that he's staying.”
 
Mbappé’s adaptation
“If you think about defensive work, Mbappé is the last one we have to consider. He's playing very well, he's caused a threat. He hasn't scored many goals but he's moving around very well. There's no problem with adaptation. The focus is on defensive work and this should be collective, but obviously, a forward's work in defence has to be less committed because that's not his main role.”
 
On the criticism
“That's completely normal. We're not worried at all. We're going to have criticism until May at some points, it's quite normal whatever happens.”
 
Link-up play between Vini Jr. and Mbappé
“I think they're playing well together. The problem of scoring isn't a small detail, because obviously, it's important for a forward. You can always play better, faster and show more movement, but the offensive problem isn't specific to these games because we're scoring in all of them and I'm sure we'll improve. The problem isn't there. With time Mbappé and Vini Jr. will combine better, but also Mbappé with the midfielders. We won't have any issues offensively, we've never had any problems and even less so this season when we have the best players in the world.”
 
Have you considered alternating their positions?
“Mbappé and Vini Jr. can change positions on the pitch, but we've played more with Vini Jr. on the left and I think we'll continue like that.”
 
Could choosing the penalty taker be a problem?
“No, it's not, because I think it's right to give the responsibility to both of them. They have equal quality to take penalties and I don't want to choose. Also because a lot of things happen in a game and one might have scored a goal and the other needs to get one. I have total faith in both of them as forwards. I don't see the problem.”