Carlo Ancelotti remains unflappable in the face of speculation. With his hands resting on the table, he listens carefully to questions, occasionally raising an eyebrow but never losing his temper. This steadiness is evident even when asked about Vinicius Junior and a rumored billion-dollar offer from a Saudi fund. “These are just market speculations,” the Real Madrid manager stated in the press conference ahead of the Super Cup final against Atalanta. “There is no Vinicius issue. He is happy here.”
Most of the questions revolved around Kylian Mbappé, who is set to make his debut in Real Madrid’s colors at the Warsaw stadium. Ancelotti emphasized the unity within the squad: “There are no kings or princes in the locker room; we are a group. Everyone is dedicated to the team. We want to kick off the season on the right foot and win the first trophy of the year. The team is in great shape.”
When it comes to Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini, Ancelotti was full of praise. The two coaches have crossed paths during their time at Juventus and completed their coaching courses together in Coverciano. “Atalanta deserves to be here. He has done an extraordinary job,” Ancelotti remarked.
Shifting back to Mbappé, Ancelotti noted that the Frenchman has integrated well so far: “He has introduced himself well, just like the others. We haven’t had much time to see him, but he is ready. Anyone who is here can start tomorrow,” indicating that Mbappé is likely to play from the start.
Also present at the press conference were Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde. Despite the typical remarks about the match’s importance and the need to secure the first trophy of the season, Carvajal brought up an issue regarding the packed calendar: “It makes no sense. We cannot maintain that pace. It’s impossible to take the field for 72 matches; that’s a topic worth discussing. We and our families suffer from it.” Ancelotti smiled at this comment, affirming, “What the players say matters.”