Carlo Ancelotti keeping calm ahead of Real Madrid's date with Barcelona

Madrid go into the game under a cloud, with the physical and mental state of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo being questioned, a focus on a run of recent poor results -- including losses at Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilba -- and their close call with a Champions League elimination at home to Schalke.

Such is the mood among Blancos fans and pundits that the local press on the eve of the game suggested Ancelotti could be sacked should his team suffer a painful defeat at the Camp Nou.

Asked at his prematch news conference if his relaxed personality was an advantage in such situations, and whether he feared the axe should the team lose on Sunday, the Italian said his patience had a limit eventually -- but he remained relaxed and confident ahead of the game.

"My personality has helped me to be patient... some say I have patience without limits, but there is a limit," Ancelotti said. "However, I feel good, I have felt good, and I will feel good. I know how this world is, and that I must have a cool head in relations with everyone, with players, journalists and everyone at the club.

"We have not played well recently, not been on a good run, but my confidence in the players remains total. I do not feel my future is on the line. It is an important game for all Madridistas, for the club, as it is for Barcelona.

Ancelotti said that the special atmosphere of a Clasico, and the return to fitness of Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos, should help the team to show the "character" needed to go to Barcelona and win.

"For each team this is a very special game, it is a different atmosphere to other games," he said. "But the team is relaxed, confident, ready to play the best game possible. We are feeling much better, and having Modric and Ramos for this game will help a lot.

"Tomorrow the game will not be won with the head, and the physical aspect is not the most important. The keys to win are to play the best possible game in every aspect, offensive and defensive -- above all to try to impose our game with our character and personality."

Madrid's poor run has seen a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona pass them and move top of the table, but the gap is still only one point, as Ancelotti reminded reporters.

"At the moment Barca are on a better run than us, of course," he said. "They are playing very well at this moment, above all Messi. We have a game which will be difficult for the two teams.

"We have a lot of confidence in this game -- it is a great opportunity for us to take on the team who have been top for two weeks. The opportunity is there to win and go back top ourselves."

Ancelotti said that Ronaldo, whose long-term future at the Bernabeu has also been questioned recently, was in good spirits and had not been playing as badly as was being suggested.

"Cristiano is fine. He has had a good week, training well. I believe he is in top spirits at the moment," he said. "In the last few games he has played very well -- he saved the last-16 game against Schalke, has scored goals, given assists. Maybe he is not at his very best, but he has played well."