Real Madrid face a potentially season-defining two weeks as they take on La Liga title rivals Atletico Madrid and old foes Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoffs.
Los Blancos host Diego Simeone’s side on February 8, with his team currently holding a one-point advantage of their neighbours, with a trip to Manchester on the agenda three days later.
The second leg in the Spanish capital is set for February 19, but Ancelotti is currently battling against an injury crisis, at the worst possible time.
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Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are both sidelined for the remainder of the campaign after both suffering ACL injuries in 2024.
Antonio Rudiger was forced off injured in the 1-0 La Liga defeat at Espanyol on February 1, and he will miss out on the Atletico game and the first leg against City, with his chances of making the return game rated at 50/50.
Ancelotti is hoping David Alaba will be match-fit, as he builds up fitness following 13 months out due to his own ACL injury, but the Austrian is unlikely to start successive games.
Academy duo Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio will likely play some part in each game. but Ancelotti is depending on Aurelien Tchouameni to continue as a cover option, despite some criticism over his temporary move back from midfield.
The France star swapped back into midfield for the midweek Copa del Rey quarterfinal win over Leganes but Ancelotti hinted that is only temporary.
“Tchouaméni was very happy to play in his natural position in midfield, but I told him not to be too happy (laughs). We have to think game by game because we are in a moment of emergency,” as per reports from Marca.
“Fede Valverde also contributes at full-back, because he’s a spectacular player. Choosing his position is complicated because he does well wherever I put him. Tchouaméni and him together in defence is complicated, it has to be one of them, and I have to decide.”