A decimated Real is going for another title

With four trophies won in the club's history, Real Madrid is the most successful team when it comes to trophies at the Club World Cup. Madrid were the best in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and counting the Intercontinental Cup, when only the champions of Europe and South America fought for the title, they have seven trophies, because they celebrated in that competition in 1960, 1998 and 2002. years.

As the current champion of Europe, Real is looking for another trophy from the semi-finals, in which tonight (20 p.m.) in Rabat, Morocco, it will face the African champion Al Ahli. In the round of 3, the Egyptians defeated New Zealand's Auckland (0:1), and in the quarterfinals they were better than Seattle (0:42). It is about the most successful Egyptian and African club. Al Ahli was the champion of Egypt 10 times, and the champion of Africa XNUMX times.

"They are one of the best teams in the world. They are an organized and quality team, with a rich history and a large army of fans. I expect an even match", Real coach Karlo Ancelotti said in the announcement of the match.

Real arrived in Morocco decimated and in not very good shape. The team lost to Majorca (1:0) in La Liga on Sunday, which is their second defeat in the last five matches in the championship. Thibaut Courtois, Karim Benzema, Eder Militao, Ferlan Mendy and Lucas Vasquez did not travel with the team to Morocco. However, if Real reach the final, then there are chances that Courtois, Benzema and Militao will arrive in the Moroccan capital and join the team in the fight for the trophy.

- They are on the list of players, because they could join us on Saturday. We have decided that they will stay in Madrid, but if we beat Al Ahli, then we expect them on Thursday. I think the team is growing, despite that defeat against Mallorca. We had injured players, but not only us. The calendar is terrible - the Italian coach is honest.

Ancelotti expects the team to return to the Spanish capital with another trophy.

- The World Club Championship is an important event. If you are a participant, it means that you played very well last season. There are many Real fans here and we want to make them happy. The stadium is in good condition, the pitch is good. We are delighted to play here. I hope that everything will be fine and that we will return to Madrid with the cup. This is an opportunity to properly finish what we started last season - said Ancelotti.

The Italian also spoke about Vinicius at the press conference. In Spain, the Brazilian is constantly targeted by opposing players who provoke him during matches, but also by fans, who insult him on racial grounds.

- What does Vinicius have to defend against? What do his teammates have to defend against? Is Vinicius the problem? He seems to be, but the problem is what's going on around him. Period. That is the problem of Spanish football. I'm part of Spanish football and I think it's a problem we have to solve - Ancelotti said.

And the duel with the biggest club in the world is a huge motivation for all teams, including Al Ahli. The scorer of the only goal in the quarter-finals, against Seattle, midfielder Afša says that the team will do its best to achieve a positive result tonight.

- Real is the best club in the world. I used to root for them in my childhood. We will do our best to win - said Afša.

Al Ahli have never played in a Club World Cup final.

- It will be difficult, because we are playing against the strongest team in the world. Everything is possible. We believe in ourselves. We are experienced and full of determination to get a good result - believes midfielder Karaba.

One of Al Ahli's few non-Egyptian players is Aliu Dieng, a footballer from Mali.

- This is a dream match. We will enjoy it. There is no pressure - said Dieng.

The winner of this match will play in the final against Al Hilal, who were better than Flamengo.