Monday was a good day for Los Blancos. Manager Carlo Ancelotti made the three-man shortlist for the 2014 FIFA Coach of the Year award, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was nominated in the top three for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or and James Rodriguez’s goal against Uruguay at the World Cup was picked among the final three for the FIFA Puskas Award. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema also joined CR7 on the list of 15 forwards nominated for the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
This Tuesday, three of the four aforementioned players will be among the stars rested for Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey fixture at home to Cornella, with James Rodriguez being the only of the four selected in Ancelotti’s 17-man squad. Iker Casillas will also not play.
“We are going to make changes, but not because the team is tired,” Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti noted at the pre-match press conference.
“They look fine to me and don't have any problems. We played well in Malaga both physically and technically.”
He continued:
“The players, who have featured less, need to get some rest. Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Kroos will be rested. Medrán, Khedira, who is in good shape, and Illarra will start the game.”
Meanwhile, the home crowd will be treated to the much-anticipated return of starlet Jese Rodriguez. He was last seen on a pitch nine months ago, in March, when he suffered a grave knee injury against Schalke in the UEFA Champions League. “Jesé will not be in the starting XI, but he is part of the squad and will play the second half or at least a good part of it,” as Ancelotti confirmed.
After collapsing 4-1 in the first leg, Cornella’s chances of creating an upset to reach the Last 16 are extremely slim. Even a 3-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu today will not see them through, due to the away goals rule.
That said, if Real Madrid enter the second leg with the right to draw or even lose, Carlo Ancelotti’s weakened team will still be under pressure to do one thing: prolong Los Blancos’ perfect run to 17 games on the trot in all competitions.
Can they do that?
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