Carlo Ancelotti has welcomed the arrival of new superstars Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez as Real Madrid step up their preparations for the new campaign.

Ancelotti has not yet worked with his new recruits – signed for a combined €110m (Dh542m) – as they have been given a holiday following their exertions at the World Cup, while the Italian manager leads the majority of the squad into a preseason tournament in America.

Speaking from the team’s base in Los Angeles, Ancelotti admitted he is very pleased by the events that have been unfolding on the other side of the Atlantic.

“The club is doing a very good job,” he said. “We have a good, competitive squad and with James and Kroos we can reach the end of the season without any problems.

“Real Madrid always tries to have players with quality and a future, and that is why we have made the signings.

“They can play in different positions on the pitch and were two of the best players at the World Cup.”

After last season’s cup double in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, Ancelotti is looking forward to the team making further strides as he prepares for his second season in charge at the Bernabeu.

Seemingly setting his sights on a long stay at the club, he added: “We’re at the beginning of an era that began last year, when we won two titles which was very important.

“This season the squad is even more competitive and we have the drive and desire to keep winning titles. I’m very confident we can do even better because this time last year we did a lot of work to strengthen the team and implement a new system. We will start the season better this time.”