Carlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid can cope with their current injury problems ahead of Sunday’s trip to Cadiz.
Madrid are on a run of seven LaLiga matches without defeat and will be out to go top of the table with a win before current leaders Girona play on Monday.
Los Blancos will be without a host of leading players due to injury, with the likes of Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni all unavailable.
But boss Ancelotti says there is no cause for concern as he has complete faith in his squad.
He said on the Madrid website: “We’ve had injuries that have hampered us, but the squad is solid.
“We’ve always been competitive despite the absences. We go into the game full of confidence and we hope that the injured players recover soon. We’re convinced that we can handle the problems because we have a squad that gives me confidence.
“Those who have played less have an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to show how good the players are that make up this squad.”
Madrid take on 16th-placed Cadiz before facing Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday and then Granada in the league three days later, meaning Ancelotti’s side face three games in seven days.
Ancelotti criticised the hectic schedule.
He added: “The calendar cannot be sustained and those who draw it up have to look at this.
“Now we have this problem and it will increase because there will be a World Cup and a Champions League with more matches.
“The only solution is to reduce the number of games and this can be done by LaLiga, UEFA and FIFA, but they do the opposite.
“It’s all good if you reduce the number of matches and that will reduce the number of injuries and improve the quality of the spectacle.
“I’ve seen 8-0 games and 14-0 games and I don’t know if that makes much sense.”
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
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