Real Madrid ‘lacked courage’ against Manchester City, says Carlo Ancelotti before rematch
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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his players have to be mentally strong against City but admitted he was nervous.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on April 8, ahead of another showdown with Manchester City, that his team played without courage or personality when the English champions knocked them out of the Champions League last season.
Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Real 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s semi-finals and Ancelotti called on his players to show more mental strength this time around.
The record 14-time winners host champions City at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 9 in a mouth-watering quarter-final first leg.
“We played without courage, without personality – courage and personality are fundamental in this type of game, we lacked them in the second leg,” Ancelotti said.
After a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, Los Blancos crumbled to a bruising 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. Ancelotti said his players have to be mentally strong against City but admitted he was nervous before the game.
“The important thing is to be at our best, the mental aspect is very important,” continued Ancelotti.
“In terms of courage and personality, we’ve had time to prepare for the game, we’ve prepared very well... I am confident that we will give our best and we’ve got the quality to compete.”
Despite having won the competition four times, twice each with AC Milan and Real – more than any other manager – Ancelotti admitted his tension before the clash.
“(I’m) very nervous, before a game on a personal level it’s all suffering. Defeat is suffering and victory is relief, not happiness... suffering and stress keep you alive, it’s gasoline for me,” said the Italian, who is set to coach his 200th Champions League match.
Last season, Real defender Antonio Rudiger kept Erling Haaland and his teammates relatively quiet in the first leg but Ancelotti did not start the German in the Etihad thrashing.
“(The first leg) was a good game and we stopped Haaland getting passes. The coach didn’t apologise (for dropping me) and doesn’t need to. I accept it, even though it was hard to accept,” said Rudiger.
“Now for this game the plan is to try and control dangerous players like Phil Foden, (Kevin) de Bruyne and, of course, Haaland.”
Rudiger said he would treat the battle against the Norwegian hitman as if it was personal.
“It’s about the team, but I will take that duel as if it’s personal, as a defensive player against a super striker like Haaland,” he added.
He called the 23-year-old one of the toughest forwards he has ever faced, adding: “He lives off passes from his teammates.
“You can’t control everything, like players like de Bruyne finding a pass for Haaland. But we have to try to control as much as possible to make it possible to control Haaland.”
Meanwhile, City midfielder Rodri believes having home advantage for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, where City are unbeaten in the Champions League since 2018, could be the deciding factor.
“We know each other very well. We come from last year’s experience, which was very nice for us”, said Rodri after the draw was made.
“We know that it will be very difficult to qualify again, but honestly I think the draw was favourable for us in the sense that the return leg is at home.” AFP