Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that his players must be 'calm and confident', as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of the Spanish Super Cup final.
Los Blancos suffered a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, and the team's performance in El Clasico was widely criticised.
Real Madrid were also beaten 2-1 by Villarreal in their last league match, which has left the reigning champions in second spot in the table, three points behind leaders Barcelona.
The Champions League holders are now preparing to face Villarreal once again, with the Yellow Submarine hosting the capital giants in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on Thursday night.
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Ancelotti has admitted that his side are entering a "complicated period", as they will face two difficult La Liga games against Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad before the end of the month.
The Italian has said that Real Madrid are "at the beginning of a cycle" due to the number of young players at the club.
"We have to give calm and confidence, it is a complicated period against rivals who have a good dynamic. We are never going to lower our arms and we are going to get ahead. When? I don't know, let's hope tomorrow," Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
"We are not going to leave too late and this team is going to compete in all competitions.
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"It's a young team because everyone talks about [Luka] Modric, [Toni] Kroos or [Karim] Benzema, but there were already young people and there are more that have arrived this year. I think we are at the beginning of a cycle. It is a moment of transition from one fantastic time to another.
"We have had injuries that have affected us a little more and it was not foreseeable. We have to put up with it this month. We think that tomorrow is important although everyone thinks Madrid is dead.
"We continue to have confidence, we have an excellent staff and we are going to do it well."
Ancelotti also confirmed that Vinicius Tobias would be in the squad against Villarreal, with the 18-year-old, who is on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, looking to make his first-team debut for Real Madrid.
Matt Law
