"The difference between Xabi and Ancelotti? It's their age"

In the mixed zone ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-finals, Real Madrid's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni cited "age" as the primary distinction between his new manager, Xabi Alonso, and his former one, Carlo Ancelotti.

"Carlo is a fantastic coach; he helped us win numerous titles and has achieved incredible things in football. Xabi, on the other hand, is a new coach who has won silverware in Germany, and we are gradually gaining a better understanding of his style of play," Tchouameni explained before the knockout match that will pit Los Blancos against Borussia Dortmund.

The French international is playing a prominent role in these early weeks under Xabi, who uses him interchangeably as a defensive pivot or as a third centre-back flanked by Rüdiger and Huijsen, as was the case in the most recent match against Juventus (Club World Cup Round of 16).

Tchouameni stated that "the important thing" for him is to be "on the pitch" and to perform well in order to adapt to the Whites' new style of play.

"Against Juventus, I started as a centre-back and then moved into midfield (...) I enjoy playing with my teammates, regardless of where I play. I try to do what the boss asks. With each training session, we understand a little more about what we have to do. We have to keep going like this," he added.