Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Xabi Alonso must be the only person in world football who thinks Manuel Neuer could beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the Ballon d'Or.
Alonso, who joined Bayern from Real Madrid in the summer, launched a mini-scandal in the Spanish media this week, when he said Neuer would "certainly" be a "justified" winner of the award, while adding that he was "the best goalkeeper I have ever played with, by far."
Backing somebody else for the prize was reportedly seen as treachery by some in Ronaldo's camp, while the comments by his Alonso were also taken by many as a blow aimed at another former Blancos colleague Iker Casillas.
Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday that Alonso's views on the Ballon d'Or were definitely not widely shared.
"I have read what [Alonso] said," Ancelotti said. "I do not like to get into these type of comments. He has given his personal opinion about the goalkeeping issue and the Ballon d'Or. He is one of the few people who thinks that Cristiano is not going to win it. But I understand he will talk well of a teammate."
Asked whether he thought Casillas or Neuer was the better goalkeeper, Ancelotti was typically diplomatic.
"It is not good to make comparisons," he said. "I am happy to have a keeper like Iker. And [Bayern coach Pep] Guardiola will be happy with Neuer."
Ancelotti was on happier ground when musing about whether to replace the injured Luka Modric with either the attack-minded Isco or the more athletic Sami Khedira for Saturday's La Liga trip to Eibar.
"I have not yet decided," Ancelotti said. "Khedira is the classical option, or I could put in Isco. I will see in training if Khedira is in a good physical condition, if not Isco will play."
Khedira is out of contract at the end of the current season, and radio show El Larguero this week claimed that the 27-year-old German had agreed to join Bayern on a free transfer next summer, although Ancelotti denied was already a done deal.
"[Khedira] wants to stay here," Ancelotti said. "He does not want to leave Real Madrid and he has told me that personally. We will try and get him to sign a new contract, but I believe this is not the moment to speak about the issues. With time this situation will be sorted out. His fitness is pretty good. He played against Spain [in Tuesday's friendly] and did well."
Reports have suggested Modric could be out until February with the tendon tear picked up playing for Croatia against Italy in last week's Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy. Ancelotti said there was no set date yet for his return.
"The injury is pretty serious," Ancelotti said. "We do not know when he will be back. He is already into his recovery process. Modric is a very important player for us, but we have a very competitive squad."
The form of that squad means Madrid will be going for a 14th consecutive win in all competitions in Saturday's game, which is the club's first ever La Liga game against the relatively low-budget but very well organised Basque team.
"We will try and play always in the same way, but each game is its own story," Ancelotti said. "Against Eibar it will be a very intense game, with the spaces reduced. We must be aggressive."