Midfielder Jude Bellingham is the latest blow after being diagnosed with a sprain in his left ankle
\nLEIPZIG
\nReal Madrid\u2019s injury crisis will add extra motivation for their Champions League last-16, first leg tie at RB Leipzig on Tuesday, manager Carlo Ancelotti said as they resume their bid for a record-extending 15th European Cup triumph.
\nMadrid, who lead the LaLiga table after one defeat in 24 league matches, head to the Bundesliga side with plenty of injury problems. Midfielder Jude Bellingham is the latest blow after being diagnosed with a sprain in his left ankle.
\nThe 20-year-old England international has had a stunning season since his 103 million euros ($111.05 million) move to the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund in June and has scored four goals in five Champions League matches.
\nGoalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defenders Eder Militao and David Alaba are long-term absentees with knee ligament injuries.
\nBut Ancelotti is confident Real can overcome the setbacks. \u201cI never think about the ones that aren\u2019t here,\u201d he told reporters on Monday.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s no Bellingham, but without him, we won four out of four. These injuries have been an opportunity to be more motivated. We can do well against Leipzig. \u201cWe\u2019re on a good run, motivated, in a competition that we like a lot … \u201c
\nThe German side are in fifth place in the Bundesliga.
\n\u201cThey are a strong opponent, they play intensely and with quality up front. We will play a complete game, especially defensively,\u201d Ancelotti added.
\n\u201cI see a solid (Real) team, serious, motivated, with a good atmosphere, nobody complains, everyone contributes … \u201cEverything is going well so far, despite all the difficulties we\u2019ve had … It was thanks to the character of the players,\u201d he added.
\nAncelotti was also asked about Real stalwart Toni Kroos\u2019 future at the club, as the 34-year-old German midfielder\u2019s contract expires in June.
\n\u201cWhatever he decides, you have to respect it. One, I think, has to leave it at the top. This year he can be, or next year, I don\u2019t know, because his performance has always been good,\u201d said the Italian.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Midfielder Jude Bellingham is the latest blow after being diagnosed with a sprain in his left ankle LEIPZIG Real Madrid\u2019s injury crisis will add extra motivation for their Champions League last-16, first leg tie at RB Leipzig on Tuesday, manager Carlo Ancelotti said as they resume their bid for a record-extending 15th European Cup triumph. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":387056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-387034","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n