Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is counting on his team’s last exercise to determine if his veteran French striker Karim Benzema will play in the Club World Cup final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal tomorrow Saturday.
Benzema missed the semi-final against Al-Ahly of Egypt (4-1) on Wednesday with Brazilian defender Eder Militao and Belgian goalkeeper Thibault Courtois due to a hip injury.
While Courtois stayed in Madrid, Benzema, last season’s Ballon d’Or winner, and Militao joined the royal team’s delegation to Morocco, hosting the Club World Cup.
And whether he will pay Benzema and Militau in the Al-Hilal match, Ancelotti said at a press conference ahead of the upcoming match on Friday: “They arrived yesterday because we believe they have a chance to play. Today’s training will be important for them. I think they will have a chance to play. Today they will train and then I will decide if they can play or not.”
The veteran coach continued: “The title will give us more momentum and confidence. We are very close. It was very difficult to get here and we made many sacrifices. I ask the team to enjoy this match and do their best, always looking forward to winning.”
The Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in the Moroccan capital of Rabat will host a showdown between Real Madrid and Al Hilal, with Real Madrid looking to win their fifth Club World Cup title and Al Hilal looking to be their first. Arab team to win the title.
Source: agencies
