Carlo Ancelotti insists Real Madrid will overcome their injury crisis in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against neighbours Atletico, declaring he has the best squad in the world.

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With the tie perfectly poised after a goalless draw in the first leg, Real’s preparations have been hit by a series of injury blows, with Karim Benzema the latest to be ruled out after failing to recover from a knee injury.

The France striker joins suspended full-back Marcelo and injured duo Gareth Bale and Luka Modric on the sidelines, but Madrid coach Ancelotti has expressed his confidence in the players who are available.

“I have the best squad in the world and it is important to focus on the players who are going to play,” he said. “The answer is to play fresh players, who are enthusiastic, fit and can help us play as we did in the first leg.”

The Italian was also keen to ensure that the missing players could not be used as an excuse, adding: “We have to learn to live with injuries. It happened to us in important games last season and this is not going to harm our confidence.”

Ancelotti was reluctant to reveal how he intends to replace the absent quartet, although Fabio Coentrao will almost certainly start at left-back with Alvaro Arbeloa – traditionally a right-back – the only other realistic alternative.

Further upfield, the positional flexibility of Isco and James Rodriguez gives Ancelotti plenty of options, with young forward Jese Rodriguez, Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, out-of-favour Germany international Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi all in the frame to start.

“We have various solutions,” he said. “It could be Jese or it could be through James’ position, whether on the right or in the centre. James will be a great help to us because he is in good form and effective at everything. 

“And Chicharito is doing well psychologically, as he demonstrated against Malaga. “But I am not going to announce the team yet because I have not discussed it with the players.”