"The pre-season is a challenge: with the European Championship and the Copa America…"

Antonio Pintus, Real Madrid's head of physical preparation, described as a ‘challenge’ the planning of the athletic and aerobic work of this pre-season, in which the European Championship and the Copa America meant that the players returned to the team at different times after enjoying their holidays.

"The players are arriving gradually, it's a form of progressive incorporation that depends on when they finished the European Championship and the Copa America. It's a challenge, it's a challenge. I'm not saying it's a problem, it's our job. And if there is a problem we have to look for solutions. That's what we are here for," said Pintus.

Ancelotti's side are in Chicago for the first of three friendlies on their US tour, against Milan at Soldier Field. Los Blancos do so without France's Mbappe, Brazilians Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao, Bellingham and Carvajal and with a squad in which the talent of youngsters such as Turkey's Arda Guler and Brazil's Endrick shines through.

Vini, Rodrygo and Militao are expected to join the training camp on Thursday, while Mbappe, Bellingham and Carvajal are not part of the expedition. "In the gym, we did some fairly individualised work, to achieve explosive strength and prevention. It's clear that the players who arrived two days ago only did part of it, 50-70% of the overall work. Those who have been here since the beginning did 100% of the overall work," said Pintus.

"The pre-season is divided into an aerobic, volume phase. Then there is a high-intensity phase and the last one is with accelerations. It is clear that, with the players who arrived two days ago, I have not been able to do 15 days of volume, high intensity and then accelerations. We have to use the little holiday time they had so that they don't lose too much physical quality. It's about adapting to the situation little by little," he concluded.