Ancelotti: “I’m not ruling out playing Iker in the league”

Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti chatted to Spanish sports journalists earlier today, attending around 35 reporters for almost an hour. The Italian spoke about his itinary, his daily working methods as well as explaining the functions and duties expected of each member of his technical team.
Regarding his daily routine, Ancelotti explained, “I usually arrive at Valdebebas around 9:30 and I stay here until I leave, between 18:30 and 19:00”. The coach holds a meeting with his technical team and hour and a half before Madrid’s training sessions get underway. “We take a look at who is available and prepare the session depending on the players we have. The majority of our sessions are focused around ballwork”.
Later, Ancelotti gives the players free rein to decide whether they want to have breakfast or lunch at Valdebebas or eat elsewhere but stressed that “what the players eat is very important” and that a number of players stay behind at Real Madrid City for non-obligatory treatment such as sessions of alternate hot-cold baths.
He was also quizzed about his policy of rotating goalkeepers Diego López and Iker Casillas. Should Madrid reach the Champions League final, Casillas will not feature in any of the team’s games from the end of April until the day of the final itself, 24 May. Ancelotti replied, “I’m not ruling out fielding Iker in one or two league games, we will discuss that if we do make the Champions League final”.
Paul Clement’s role, says the coach, is to define the different types of exercises to be undertaken in each training session while Zinedine Zidane will take each player through the technical aspects of their game.
Ancelotti revealed that he doesn’t notify players of their inclusion in his squad lists or whether they will feature in his starting line-up. “I don’t usually say anything to them – only if I decide that one of the first choice players needs a rest or if a player who doesn’t normally play is to be including in the team”. Nevertheless he is in permanent contact with his playing staff and has made it clear that the door to his office is always open for them – “although they only tend to come when there’s a problem!”
He added that he has not been in touch with his predecessor José Mourinho and that the Portuguese manager didn’t leave him any information about managing the dressing room. “My relationships are always on the same level. I’m not some kind of sergeant who rules with an iron fist. We do have discipline, a code to adhere to and respect,” he ended.