Carlo Ancelotti has claimed “coaches cannot tell the whole truth” after Mauricio Pochettino said Kylian Mbappe would stay at Paris-Saint Germain next season and not join Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants still believe they will sign the French superstar on a free transfer this summer after failing with three bids last year. But the Qatari-owned club have launched a massive campaign to get Mbappe sign a new deal - even if he stays for only one more season and is still a PSG player during the Qatar World Cup.
Mbappe is not expected to make any announcement on his future until the Paris club’s final Ligue 1 game on May 21. Asked on Thursday if he and Mbappe would still be at the club next season, PSG boss Pochettino said: "100 per cent in both cases. That is how I feel today.
"That is what I can say to you today. I can't say anything else. That is how I feel right now. This is football, and we never know what might happen. But I have to answer the question based on how I feel today. And this is what I have done."
Ancelotti responded on Friday before Saturday's home match with Espanyol where one point will guarantee Real Madrid winning a 35th LaLiga title. "The coaches at the press conference can't tell the whole truth,” the former Chelsea and Everton boss said. “This is normal. Madrid fans are thinking of two things, winning tomorrow and winning on Wednesday. That's what we are thinking about."
Ancelotti wants to seal the league title on Saturday but also rest star players before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Manchester City on Wednesday. Eder Militao and Nacho are suspended while David Alaba and Luka Jovic are injured Casemiro could be used as an emergency centre-back. And Real Madrid are set to rest stars like Karim Benzema and Luka Modric in a reserve team and player reserves like Gareth Bale and Dani Ceballos.
“In midfield I have options, with fresh players like Camavinga and Ceballos,” he said. “Asensio is fresh and then let's see if Karim is fresh tomorrow. I have to prevent any tired player from getting injured. I usually talk to the players, whose opinion is important. But I decide.
"I have not found many players who tell me that they are tired. The player's opinion is important, but not the most important. After the game against City, the players were already thinking about Espanyol. The great tennis players, when they have a match point, they take it. Hopefully we can do it tomorrow."
Ancelotti won the club’s 10th Champions League title but failed to win LaLiga in his first spell at the club between 2013-15. But tomorrow the Italian, 62, is set to become the first coach to ever win the title in the big five European leagues: Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain. He added: “I don't like to talk about this because I haven't won it yet. I am a bit superstitious. I prefer to say what I feel when we win it!"
