Sports
Anselmi Vows Elche Will Attack Real Madrid With Possession-Based Approach
Elche head coach Martin Anselmi has called on his squad to play without fear and prioritize ball possession when they welcome Real Madrid to the Estadio Martinez Valero on Tuesday night. Despite the scale of the challenge, the Argentine manager believes controlling possession offers his team the best chance of securing their maiden La Liga win of the season.
Elche arrive at the match after a 1-1 draw at Athletic Club last Saturday, a result that added to their league tally. Even so, the club remains without a victory in any competition this campaign and has conceded an average of 2.6 goals per match. Adding to the challenge, Elche have not beaten Real Madrid in their last 16 league encounters.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Anselmi emphasized the importance of maintaining an assertive style of play regardless of the opponent's reputation. "The fact that we competed at San Mames makes us feel united and shows that this is the path to follow. For us, the best way to defend is to have the ball. I believe we must maintain the same defensive competitiveness from San Mames and defend ourselves with possession," he said.
The coach also acknowledged the technical quality of Real Madrid's squad, warning his players about the need for concentration throughout the full 90 minutes. "They make difficult passages of play look easy and push you to the limit; we can't afford to give anything away and must stay focused for the entire match," Anselmi added.
Real Madrid could make changes to their starting lineup following a 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and a demanding Champions League match against Inter Milan. Manager Jose Mourinho is expected to push for another win to keep pressure on the league leaders ahead of this weekend's capital derby.
Elche, missing the injured Yago Santiago, will be looking to end a three-match losing streak in their Tuesday fixtures and produce a strong performance against one of Europe's top clubs.