On the eve of Real Madrid’s Champions League playoff first leg at Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti described the clash as a “clásico.”
Madrid’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, followed by the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next week, marks the fifth time in six years that these teams have faced each other in the knockout stage. With each side having progressed twice before, Ancelotti acknowledged the significance of their encounters.
“It seems like it’s a clásico because we have played each other a lot in this competition,” he said. “It will depend a lot on the attitude and confidence of the teams. It’s such a high-level game that you have to be at your best in every aspect. Yes, it is the best rival with the best manager, and the team that wins this tie has a strong chance of going far in the competition.”
Real Madrid currently lead La Liga, while Manchester City sit fifth in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points. Despite the difference in form, Ancelotti still views Pep Guardiola’s side as the toughest possible opponent. “They are one of the best teams in Europe, they have the best manager out there, so it’s the most difficult game we can face regardless of form.”
He also spoke highly of Guardiola, praising his tactical ingenuity. “It’s a nightmare preparing against him because he always has ideas that make you think. He has always tried to play well, contributed a great deal to football in terms of attacking play and bringing the ball out from the back. He has been an innovator and continues to be.”
Real Madrid, however, will have to navigate a defensive crisis. Lucas Vázquez, who had been filling in at right-back, suffered a foot injury in the weekend’s 1-1 draw against Atlético Madrid, adding to the absences of Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Éder Militão, and Dani Carvajal. This leaves Ancelotti with limited options in defense, with Fede Valverde expected to slot in at right-back, Fran García on the left, and a center-back pairing of 21-year-old Raúl Asencio and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. “I think we can be competitive despite the crisis we have,” Ancelotti stated.
The Spanish club made headlines last year by boycotting the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest after Rodri won the award over Vinícius Júnior. Ancelotti defended the decision. “I don’t think it was the wrong decision,” he said. “We thought that Vini was the rightful winner that year. It doesn’t mean we don’t respect Rodri he is a fantastic player. We simply believed that Rodri deserved to win the year before when City won the treble.”
