Pepe: "I won't comment on our previous coach, he’s in the past"

The Portuguese lost his place last season when Varane broke onto the scene and he knows that he’ll have to give his all this term to earn a place in the starting XI: "I’m very pleased for Varane because he’s such a humble lad".

Pepe spoke firstly about Carlo Ancelotti’s methods and ideas: "We’re working very hard, trying to assimilate the coach’s philosophy and we’re picking up pace." When asked about his future and Manchester City’s interest in him, the centre-back stated that the matter is in the club's hands: "I have three years left on my contract with Real Madrid. I’m focused on training and giving my all. That is something for the president to deal with."

The Portuguese lost his place last season when Varane broke onto the scene and he knows that he’ll have to give his all this term to earn a place in the starting XI: "I’m very pleased for Varane because he’s such a humble lad. I had an ankle injury last season and decided, in agreement with the club’s doctors, to have surgery. When I recovered, Varane was fit and deserved to play. I’ve never thought that my place in the starting XI was guaranteed."

Regarding Bale, Pepe preferred not to comment on his possible signing: "Let’s talk about the players who are here, Bale isn’t part of the squad and therefore I have no comment to make." When talking about Mourinho he followed the same tack as the rest of his teammates. "I’m not going to comment on our previous coach because he is already part of the past and I want to focus on the present".