Ancelotti: Whistles motivate Casillas

Carlo Ancelotti has backed Iker Casillas to use criticism from Real Madrid’s supporters positively and help his side reach the UEFA Champions League final.

Casillas was booed and whistled by sections of the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday as Real came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Valencia.

“Everyone feels it when the fans whistle the player and a coach,” Ancelotti said ahead of Real’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus.

“Casillas has great amount of experience and is used to this kind of thing, it doesn’t affect him, it motivates him even more I think.

“I think tomorrow it will be different. I think all the Madrid fans understand when it’s an important game. 

“Many times in the past they’ve really got behind us, like against Atletico [Madrid] and last year in the semi-finals I’m sure they’ll get behind us again.”

Real go into Wednesday’s match 2-1 behind after defeat in Turin last week, but Ancelotti expects Juve to attack.

He added: “They have their own particular way of playing. They won’t change it just for this game. 

“They have an advantage but it’s a very small advantage. It doesn’t change anything in our approach.”