Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti decided not to reveal who his starting players would be, although he did say that Bale had fallen injured: "We have had a problem. He has a knock that needs to be looked at".
The manager didn't publicly voice his preference for either Isco Alarcón or James Rodríguez to play in the vital games Real are about to play, such as the Champions League quarter-finals against Atlético de Madrid, assuring that he was delighted to have such a problem. "The two can play together, they have done before many times", he reminded. "It's not a debate between choosing Isco or James, but about a squad that at the moment is just fine. It's great news for the manager, not a problem. Nearly all the players are on great form and I have to choose from them. It's a lovely problem to have", he said.
The Italian manager was full of praise for both players, pointing out Isco's progression this season and how fast James has adapted to his new team in this his first season in Spanish football. "There is not a player more or less important between the two of them. It's true that James is doing remarkably well in his first year, but Isco has also played great games, helping the team out fantastically. Everyone is happy with him, the fans too. It's difficult to say which player is better. I can only say that I have two players of very high quality that can play in various positions on the pitch", he enthused.
Last 28th February, Ancelotti compared Isco to the amazing Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Asked if one day the BBC would stop being "untouchable", he opened up the term to the whole team. "Isco is a great player; he has shown as much all year. I have an untouchable team and I am convinced that I have under me the best squad in the world. For this reason I am so confident that the end of the season is going to turn out well", he predicted.
