Ancelotti aims to end Real Madrid goalkeeper debate

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said that he was looking to avoid the debate over who should be first team goalkeeper which affected the club last season.

Real Madrid count on two fine goalkeepers in their squad: Spain international Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez, reports Xinhua.

Last season Ancelotti avoided the debate over who should be first choice by playing Lopez in the BBVA Primera Liga and Casillas in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Whilst the strategy appeared to keep both keepers happy, Casilllas' inactivity on a week by week basis did seem to affect him as he was poor in the final of the Champions League (which Real Madrid won despite his errors) and way below his best as Spain crashed out of the first stage of the World Cup finals.

Now the club appears to be close to signing Costa Rica international Keylor Navas from Levante, something which will complicate matters still further with either Casillas or Lopez likely to look to change club in search of more regular football.

"Navas is not a Real Madrid player," said Ancelotti from the club's training camp in Los Angeles Friday.

"At the moment we have the same keepers we had last year and Iker has just returned to training. We don't have a problem with the goalkeeper and although there were a lot of debates about the issue last season, there never was with me."

"I am going to decide at the start of the coming season who is going to be first choice keeper with this team," said the Real Madrid coach, who is looking forward to the new campaign where his side will defend their Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

"The club is doing a good job and the two players we have signed (Tony Kroos and James Rodriguez) are going to strengthen the squad. We have a good and competitive squad," he said.

The Champions League title Real Madrid won last season was the tenth of their history and the coach believes that after reaching that historic milestone a lot of pressure will be lifted from the players this campaign.

"It is the start of a cycle that began last season. We have to continue winning titles and that is why the squad is more competitive," said Ancelotti.