Real Madrid Ready For Schalke – Ancelotti

Real Madrid are turning the corner after a stuttering start to the year and Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Schalke 04 will prove it, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
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The title holders, aiming to become the first team to retain the Champions League crown, will have defender Pepe fit for the game, the Italian said.
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Real, chasing their 11th European Cup, have struggled this year, having been knocked out of the King’s Cup by Atletico Madrid while a 4-0 drubbing at their city rivals in La Liga this month cut their lead over second-placed Barcelona to a point.
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“With such a result (against Atletico) it is important to turn the corner quickly. We did it well against Deportivo La Coruna (with a 2-0 win). But we can improve and we want to show that tomorrow,” Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday.
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He sounded confident Cristiano Ronaldo will quickly rediscover his scoring form with the Portugalcaptain off colour since winning a third Fifa Ballon d’Or award last month.
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He again failed to score in Saturday’s unconvincing win at home to Deportivo and has managed only four goals this year, low by his prolific standard.
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“Against Deportivo I think he looked physically very good. He had the intensity. I think he is constantly improving. He has not scored yet but tomorrow he has the chance to do it.”
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No club has retained the Champions League trophy since its introduction in 1992/93 and Ancelotti said a return to Schalke, after demolishing them 6-1 at the same stage last year before going on to win the title, was a good omen.
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“This is fantastic motivation for us,” Ancelotti, who won back-to-back European Cup titles as a player at AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, said.
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“We were here (at Schalke) with the dream to win it last year and we are here this year and we have the same dream.
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“History will say it is really difficult, almost impossible but we have to try,” he said.