Ancelotti praises Ronaldo, ready for Juventus

Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti looks on during a news conference at Juventus stadium in Turin Nov 4, 2013. Real Madrid will play Juventus in their Champions League soccer match on Tuesday in Turin. [Photo/agencies]

MADRID -- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has again piled the praise on striker Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his side's Champions League tie away to Juventus on Tuesday night.

Speaking in his official pre-game press conference ahead of the game where a win will assure Real Madrid's place in the last 16 of the competition, Ancelotti was asked about his views of the condition of his former club, AC Milan, who are suffering their worst start to the season in over 30 years in Italy.

The coach praised Milan's Executive Director, Adriano Galliani saying he was "director of a very high level."

"I would compare him to Cristiano Ronaldo," he continued.

"There are a lot of good players and Cristiano is in another category and there are a lot of good directors and Galliani is also in another category," said Ancelotti.

While Ronaldo has meant his side have had no problems scoring goals, Ancelotti's men have looked porous in defense in recent matches, conceding five goals in their recent league matches against Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano and the coach made an appeal for balance in his side.

"It is a very simple word, I am not happy with our work in defense, but we are scoring a lot of goals, we have to find balance," he said, confirming that young central defender Rafael Varane would play alongside either Pepe or Sergio Ramos. Although he refused to say which of that duo would be rested, the fact Ramos will be suspended at the weekend implies he will play on Tuesday while Pepe is on the bench.

"Rotating the squad allows us to have players who are fresher or who have better physical condition," said the Real Madrid coach. "The fact we have conceded goals is not down to changing the side, but because we have lacked balance at times."

One player who can give balance is Xabi Alonso, who played 45 minutes at the weekend after overcoming a groin problem which had sidelined him for just over 5 months. Alonso could return in Turin.

"He is an important player, but (Asier) Illaramendi is also important, the question is more for us to work as a unit and that will help us in defense."

"I think it is going to be an interesting game. Juventus have more problems than us to get out of the group, but it is important game as we can assure we qualify and the sooner we can do that the better," insisted Ancelotti.