Carvajal: “Many are crazy about winning the Copa”

press conferenceWill Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2014 on Saturday? Before the final in Seville against CA Osasuna, coach Carlo Ancelotti and Daniel Carvajal answered questions at the press conference on Friday evening.

Real Madrid: DANIEL CARVAJAL on…

…the final of the Copa del Rey against Osasuna (Saturday, 10 p.m., in the REAL TOTAL live ticker and TV): “Nine years ago I won my first title with the Copa del Rey, I remember it particularly fondly. We all really wanted to be in the final again, so we’re taking it easy and knowing that it’s going to be very, very demanding. We’ll try to do what brought us here to win the Copa.”

…the atmosphere in the team: “I feel a special atmosphere. Many players don’t have this title yet and are crazy about winning it. We don’t approach the game any differently than in the Champions League. Tomorrow there will be tingling before a finale, which will cause even more emotions.”

…the important phase with the cup final and the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday: “We now have two weeks in which our season is practically decided. The situation in the league has become very complicated for us. The first attack is tomorrow. It’s a final against a very difficult opponent. We want to win another title. The coach said it: we have the chance to win all kinds of titles at club level in two seasons.”

…its shape: “Every player, every athlete has better and worse phases. In terms of confidence and playfulness, I feel pretty good. We have a lot of players in the dressing room who are used to these games. I hope that can decide the game tomorrow.”

…the not uncommon criticism of him: “I try to have it as good as possible throughout the season. In the end, you always have to respect the criticism and remain optimistic. The path in the world of football is not always rosy.”

…reaching the final and being the favourite: “At the start of the season we had set ourselves the goal of winning every possible title. That is not easy. We are now in the important phase of the season. We don’t see ourselves as favourites, because Osasuna has earned it for itself to be in the final. We saw it just a few days ago when they almost drew at the Camp Nou with fewer players and one man less. It will be a very difficult opponent. We expect a very intense game in which Osasuna will appear with the knife between his teeth. We have to be prepared for all situations, be 100 percent focused.”

…discussions with referees: “I’m one of the players on the team who defies the referee the most – which maybe I should have done less. I’m trying to correct that. We are all human and we all make mistakes. Recently, protesting cost me the first yellow card and it probably cost us the game (he flew off the field with yellow and red in the 0: 2 against Real Sociedad; ed.). The referees try their best and you try to make the decisions in your team’s favour. So we try to talk to them. You would have to protect the football game more often, in favor of the game and the pace. And not the team that plays for time and destroys the game with fouls and provocations. You have to correct that next season.”

…his Instagram malice after being sent off in San Sebastián: “I don’t think it was worth a second yellow card. Hence the emoji. But I quickly deleted it. The referee interpreted it like this: you have to accept the decision. I regret it because I left the team outnumbered and it was so difficult to turn the game around.”

…Vinícius Júnior and his development: “I’m very honest: when he came to us you could already see that he was going to be a top player. But he was under enormous pressure, it was a meme. Vinícius wouldn’t score, would dribble a lot, but wouldn’t finish the situation. Today he is among the three or four best players in the world, decides games and competitions. I’ve rarely seen that, it’s fantastic. He worked a lot physically and mentally.”

…the often harsh approach against Vinícius: “Vinícius is disadvantaged. He tries a lot of dribbles. I don’t ask it specifically for Vinícius, but for all players who dare to do something, that they should be protected a little more. They ensure that the sport is so beautiful that the spectators enjoy watching it.”

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