Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has clarified the situation regarding the participation of French striker Karim Benzema with the team. He confirmed his selection as a starter against Shakhtar in the fourth round of the group stage of the Champions League.
The Italian coach stated during the press conference the night before the match, held in Poland, that "Benzema is in good shape; it is clear he will start the match, as he had rest like Toni Kroos and Mendy."
He added, "We need to wait for today's training session to assess the condition of the players who participated against Getafe." He pointed out that "it is important to choose the ideal lineup to win against Shakhtar. The match is crucial for securing qualification for the knockout stage."
Ancelotti acknowledged that such decisions are difficult, as they can create dissatisfaction and anger among players. He continued, "The rotation issue is challenging; every player reacts in their own way, but in this group, everyone's reaction is positive. They are upset because they want to participate, which is natural, and their reaction is to focus more during training."
He concluded, "The players respect the decisions I have made; I always tell them to respect the person even if you may be angry with him as a coach."
