Real Target Jeddah Super Cup Final Success in Clasico to Atone for Barca Mauling

 Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
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Real Target Jeddah Super Cup Final Success in Clasico to Atone for Barca Mauling

 Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)

Real Madrid's humiliating 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in October still haunts the club as the rivals prepare for their second Clasico of the season in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

LaLiga leaders Real recovered from that setback and are on a five-match winning streak ahead of defending the Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but coach Carlo Ancelotti is cautious.

"We have to think about what happened in the first game because they beat us (in LaLiga)," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday as he looked forward to Real's second cup final in a month, having won the Intercontinental Cup in December.

"We've made a pretty clear assessment, so we'll have to repeat the good things we did and avoid the mistakes. A Clasico is always a Clasico, but a final puts a bit more pressure on you."

Ancelotti has all the players who travelled available for the final including England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who experienced some muscle issues during the semi-final where he scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Mallorca.

"He's fine, he's recovered well," the Italian said of Bellingham who is Real's third-highest scorer and joint-top with assists in their current LaLiga campaign.

The coach said the Super Cup was an important title, and statistically Real had a good season every time they won it.

"When we haven't won it, it hasn't gone well. It's a competition that gives you a lot more motivation," said Ancelotti, whose last two Champions League trophies with Real have coincided with Super Cup wins.

"Barcelona are a historic rival and the matches are always very competitive. It's difficult for us and for them. The result of the match cannot be predicted," he added.



Former Spurs Players Back Postecoglou Amid Uncertain Future 

Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou watches the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou watches the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
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Former Spurs Players Back Postecoglou Amid Uncertain Future 

Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou watches the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou watches the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 25, 2025. (AFP)

As Tottenham Hotspur ponder the fate of manager Ange Postecoglou, former players of the Premier League side have thrown their support behind the Australian and urged the club's ownership to stay the course.

Postecoglou guided Tottenham to Europa League victory last month, ending the club's 17-year trophy drought, but they also endured their worst domestic season for nearly half a century and finished 17th in the Premier League.

The 59-year-old said last month he remained unsure of his future, with reports in British media on Monday saying Tottenham are set to make their decision this week.

Former Swiss international Ramon Vega, who made 64 league appearances for Tottenham, said letting the Australian go would be one of the biggest mistakes the club could make.

"I find it incredibly disrespectful to even think about sacking Ange Postecoglou," Vega said on social media on Monday.

"He has accomplished the impossible - something others with more significant credentials have failed to achieve."

Ex-Spurs and Ireland striker Robbie Keane said that in the eyes of the fans the Europa League win had made up for the woeful domestic campaign, and that Postecoglou had backed up his statement that he always wins something in his second season.

In his first season at the club, Spurs were top of the league in October, but they eventually finished fifth and suffered early exits in the FA Cup and League Cup.

"There's no getting away from that (league form). I think everybody, certainly the manager, has admitted that," Keane told talkSPORT last week.

"But I tell you what – as someone who's played for Spurs, and my two kids are Spurs fans, I don't think anyone cared at the end, because winning the trophy – at the end of the day it’s about winning.

"He's got a lot of stick, Ange, and to be fair to him, he's backed it up by his comment that he made about the second season and he put himself under a lot of pressure, but he's done it. So I think now give him time."

In an interview with Stats Perform, former Tottenham and United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel called on the club to back Postecoglou in the transfer window.

"I hope for Postecoglou they keep him and let him build in the summer and see how the start of the season goes," the American said.