Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended their style of play ahead of the Supercopa de Espana final.

Real meet Athletic Bilbao in Riyadh on Sunday night.

Ancelotti said: "I respect everyone, every facet of football is to be respected. You might want to keep the ball because you've got more chance of winning, and of showing an identity. Against Cádiz, for instance, they made life hard for us. There's not some magic approach which guarantees you'll win. The perfect system doesn't exist.

"You don't win every time because you play with the ball, or on the counter. A game can be won on set-pieces too. If we play defensively one day, it doesn't mean we're a defensive team. We've scored more goals than any other team in LaLiga.

“I'm thrilled to hear that Madrid are playing well on the counter because it's not easy. You have to be play vertically and have players who can release the pass at the perfect moment, as well as forwards who come onto it at just the right time. In our third goal against Barcelona we had six players in the box, not just one. We didn't win because of a long hoof up to Vinicius. There were three or four short passes. It's a well-worked counter-attack. I'm delighted if people are saying we're playing on the counter."