Real Madrid are fully focused on the Copa de Rey fixture against Espanyol tonight as they aim for glory on three fronts this years.
Los Blancos have had an excellent couple of weeks in La Liga, and with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid dropping more points at the weekend, Madrid sit just one point off the top of the table.
But speaking at the press conference ahead of his side’s second visit to Cornell-El Prat in as many weeks, Ancelotti said their attention was 100% on the Copa, and not on La Liga for now.
“We are going into the match thinking about it being a quarter-final over two legs. We have to play well. I was happy with how we did against them in La Liga. We have to play like that again, or better if possible. Our aim is to take the advantage in this match. I know that the tie will be decided at the Bernabéu and that we have to play well both matches,” he stated.
He did take time out to hail his team for fighting back into contention in La Liga though, and said the players had upped their games since the setback in the Nou Camp at the end of October, when Los Blancos lost 2-1.
“A lot of the credit for having cut the gap goes to the team because they have kept fighting in the competition. We improved after the match with Barcelona,” Ancelotti said.
