He won the Master Cup with Milan twice as a player, but Carlo Ancelotti has a hard time focusing on the sports aspect when his Real Madrid faces the Italian club in the Champions League on Tuesday.
It's a very special match for me, but I'll try to talk about it as little as possible, says Ancelotti, who won the old European Cup as a player with Milan in 1989 and 1990.
"Affects us all"
The reason is the flood disaster in eastern Spain – the Valencia area is the hardest hit – which has claimed at least 217 human lives.
I hope the situation can be resolved quickly and I hope you understand that it's hard to talk about football right now, says the Real Madrid coach at a press conference.
We're all part of this country and all this affects us all. I don't feel like talking about football, continues the 65-year-old.
Ancelotti joins the chorus of critics who think it was wrong to play eight La Liga matches over the weekend.
No one wanted to play and it would have been the right decision in my opinion, but it's not us who decide, those above us make the decisions, says the Italian.
"Should have taken a break"
Real Madrid's away match against Valencia was understandably postponed. Valencia's home arena Mestalla has been converted into a relief center.
There are many ways to help. Football should have taken a break and then football can and should help, says Ancelotti ahead of the home match against Milan.
Reigning Champions League champions Real Madrid have started the autumn league play with two wins and one loss. Milan has three points after one win and two losses.
