Carlo Ancelotti ‘excited’ for Real Madrid to return to renovated Bernabeu

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is “excited” to get back in front of the home fans as his side look to make it four consecutive wins when Getafe visit the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Ancelotti’s side have picked up maximum points from their opening three matches, which have all been away from home while renovations were carried out at the Bernabeu.

Madrid are the only team in LaLiga to have picked up three wins from three but will face a challenge from Getafe, who have already taken a point off Barcelona this season.

@MrAncelotti #RealMadridGetafe pic.twitter.com/zbPYd9m54E

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 1, 2023

Ancelotti told a press conference: “We’re really excited to be back at the Bernabeu, it looks quite different now.

“It’s important to get back to our stadium in front of our fans after some good performances in the opening three games. We can’t wait to return and pick up the three points.”

“I’m not in the mind of the fans. I am very excited about the season.

“Every single one of us, when the season starts, we are hungry to have an incredible campaign.

“It’s happened many times in the past and could very well happen again this year.”

Madrid will be without their playmaker Vinicius Jr for the clash after he was brought off in the 18th minute of their 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo with a hamstring injury.

Our squad for the match @GetafeCF!#RealMadridGetafe pic.twitter.com/0UG7iqsMgy

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 1, 2023

The 23-year-old is likely to be missing for several weeks and Ancelotti understands he will be a big miss.

He continued: “Being without Vini Jr means we lose a hugely decisive player for the next few games.

“Our approach won’t change but we’ll replace him with a player who has different attributes, so we’ll try to adapt our attacking movement.”

“We can replace Vinicius with Joselu and Brahim (Diaz). We don’t have to play with three forwards but I might well play with someone coming inside.

Despite losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad and Marco Asensio to PSG, Real have reinforced their squad with other options, including Jude Bellingham, who has made a fast start to life in Spain.

The 20-year-old has scored four goals in his opening three matches, becoming the first person to do that in Real Madrid colours since Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ancelotti thinks the fans will be happy to see Bellingham play in front of the home crowd for the first time.

He added: “The fans will be delighted to see Bellingham play live at our ground. He’s got such a strong personality, he’ll love playing at the Bernabeu.

“I’m very happy with the squad. As I said before, we did all the work we had to do early on and when the season got underway, we were all sorted.

“It’s a competitive squad because we have a mix of quality, strength, energy and experience.

“We’re in good shape, despite having some real problems, which is always the way over the course of the season.

“It’s a good squad and we can replace our injured guys without many issues.”