Elche manager Martin Anselmi knows his side cannot afford to spend 90 minutes simply absorbing pressure when Real Madrid arrive for Tuesday\u2019s La Liga clash<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After showing greater resilience against Athletic Club, the Argentine wants Elche to take that confidence into one of their toughest fixtures of the season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A 1-1 draw at San Mames provided some encouragement after a difficult opening to the campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Elche had led for much of the second half before Athletic eventually found a way back, but Anselmi believes the performance offered a blueprint for what his team must do next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe fact that we put up a fight at San Mames makes us feel united and shows us that this is the path to follow,\u201d<\/strong> said the Elche manager, as per MARCA<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Against Real Madrid<\/a>, Anselmi does not intend to abandon the principles that helped Elche compete in Bilbao.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Martin Anselmi knows stopping Real Madrid will not be easy. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n His preferred defensive strategy starts with keeping the ball away from the opposition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFor us, the best way to defend is to keep possession. I think we need to show the same defensive resilience as we did at San Mames and defend with the ball.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n That approach will face a severe examination against a Real Madrid side possessing the quality to punish<\/a> even brief lapses.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Elche have already conceded 13 goals this season and currently sit 19th, making defensive concentration a major concern.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On that note, Anselmi is fully aware of the individual threat Madrid possess.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThey make complicated moves look easy and push you to the limit. We mustn\u2019t give anything away and need to stay focused throughout the match.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Elche host Real Madrid next. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The fixture arrives at an awkward time for Anselmi, who has had limited preparation time before facing Madrid, and Yago de Santiago will be the only confirmed absentee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe most important match is the next one. From there, we\u2019ll see who\u2019s in the best form and spread the workload,\u201d<\/strong> said the Elche boss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Elche\u2019s start to the 2026\/27 season has been anything but positive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They drew with Deportivo La Coru\u00f1a before losing three consecutive games against Barcelona, Racing Santander and 10-man Real Sociedad, during which they conceded 11 goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The draw against Athletic halted that run, but it did not erase the defensive problems. Elche currently have the second-worst defensive record in La Liga<\/a>, leaving Anselmi with little margin for error against Real Madrid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nAnselmi wants Elche to defend with the ball<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\nReal Madrid test comes at a crucial moment<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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