Between 2010 and 2013, the rivalry in the classics reached the most tense moments in the history between both entities. With Guardiola, and then Tito Vilanova, and Mourinho on the respective benches of Barcelona and Real Madrid, the face-to-face between the two Spanish football transatlantics reached unsuspected heights that even affected the relationship between the Spanish international players of both teams. . There was Xavi, today a Barça coach: «That stage was not positive, it did not give a good image. It is better for this line. There is respect and admiration for the rival, for his players and for the coach. Ancelotti is a football gentleman.” Today’s final does not save the season or fire coaches, but in the case of Barcelona there is more at stake than a Spanish Super Cup. His recent record is inappropriate for his history. A single Copa del Rey in the last three years and loud firecrackers in the Champions League and in the Europa League. Today’s title would be Xavi’s first as a coach, a springboard for the big goal of this course, which is the League. «They have a psychological point of advantage, but hunger has to power us. It’s been a long time since we won a title. The youngsters have to show hunger and the veterans, category and experience. Winning is non-negotiable at Barça and the goal is titles. It has been difficult for us to get here and, if Ancelotti hasn’t lost a final since 2010, well, he motivates me even more. The title would mean a lot to us. It would give us confidence.” This urgency to play metal from Barcelona does not happen at Real Madrid, a satisfied stomach from the Champions League and Leagues in the last decade. From the outside one might think that the motivation is not the same. Ancelotti denies this premise: «We do not have a full belly. We are talking about players who have been winning since 2013 and have never tired of doing it. His mental quality is very high and this club is so demanding that it doesn’t allow you to think about having a full belly.” For Ancelotti, this would be his ninth title as coach of Real Madrid, a club that would reach 100 gimped if he wins the Super Cup tonight. Related News Standard No Spanish Super Cup | Real Madrid Ancelotti: “The grass is better than that of Cáceres, for sure” Rubén Cañizares standard No Spanish Super Cup | real madrid – barcelona Xavi: “Madrid has a psychological advantage” Rubén Cañizares Karim Benzema also knows a lot about raising cups. The Real Madrid striker can win his 25th title with the white club’s shield, which would make him equal to Marcelo, currently the footballer with the most trophies in Merengue history. “I am here to play and win finals,” the Frenchman said this Saturday, fully recovered from the injuries that made the first part of the season difficult for him. «I have done a good job to come back, to have my level, touch the ball, score, assist… I am back and happy. I don’t know how it will look from the outside, but I feel very good and I’m on the right track. The Frenchman spoke for the first time after all the World Cup mess with Deschamps, which was reported by ABC, but the player did not want to go into details and the third question on the subject settled the matter emphatically: «What happened is already there. The most important thing is the final against Barcelona. Now I’m well inside my head and my body, and the rest is past. It was complicated, but that’s it. I am no longer going to talk about France, or the World Cup or the president of the French Federation. The future of Benzema, his position, 24 hours from a final, made sense. What nobody expected was his elusive tone when it came to talking about his renewal. At 35, his contract ends this summer and it is not yet known where he will play next season. “I’m at Madrid and I enjoy every training session and every game. Then what happens in football… I don’t know how long I’m going to stay in Madrid, “he said. The whites trained yesterday with all their troops ready, except for the usual casualties of Alaba and Tchouaméni, who did not even travel to Arabia, and that of Lucas Vázquez, who was injured against Valencia and will be out for a month and a half. Camavinga and Militao, who also had problems in the semifinal, exercised normally along with the rest of their teammates. The question will be whether Ancelotti will play with three in midfield plus Valverde lying on the right, as he usually does in all big games, or will he bet on Rodrygo or Asensio on that wing. At Barça, Xavi handles a question similar to Ancelotti’s. In the Metropolitan, a week ago, the coach opted for four midfielders and only Dembélé and Lewandowski up front. He did not show a brilliant game, but he won. Perhaps he will repeat tonight, with Gavi, Pedri, De Jong and Busquets, the same protagonists as against Atlético. «It is more a team effort than the number of troops in the midfield. If we are a block and we are together it will be much easier, “said the Barça captain, who hopes to finally lift his first cup as the bearer of the Barça team’s armband.
