Marca newspaper confirmed that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to rely on the duo Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The duo returned to training with Real Madrid this month after their long absence since last August due to a torn cruciate ligament.
According to the Spanish newspaper, Ancelotti has drawn up a plan to prepare the duo for the Manchester City match, and it begins by making optimal use of the upcoming international break.
Real Madrid will play a friendly match during the break against the youth team, during which Militao and Courtois will be given the opportunity to participate in order to return to the sensitivity of the matches.
After the international break, the duo will be included in the Athletic Bilbao match, which comes a few days before facing City in the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Ancelotti believes that the extensive experience of Militao and Courtois is necessary to face what he expects from City, especially the center back due to the shortage of players this season in this position.
It remains unknown whether Ancelotti intends to exclude Andriy Lunin, despite his brilliance, and to rely on Courtois against City, especially in the first leg, as it would be a risk given the duration of the Belgian goalkeeper’s absence from the field.
It remains to be noted that, so far, there are no injuries to Real Madrid against City, except for David Alaba.