Ancelotti’s side is set to host City in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu, and the Italian coach is feeling the pressure ahead of the encounter
The upcoming match will mark Carlo Ancelotti’s 200th appearance as a manager in the Champions League, a competition in which he holds the record for the most victories, having won it four times
Real Madrid’s seasoned manager, Carlo Ancelotti, confesses to feeling nervous ahead of the impending Champions League clash against Manchester City. The record 14-time champions will welcome the reigning titleholders for the first leg of their quarter-final encounter at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. This marks the third consecutive season the two clubs have faced off in the knockout stages, with Real orchestrating a remarkable comeback victory in the 2022 semi-finals, only for City to exact revenge in a dominant display a year later
The upcoming match will mark Ancelotti’s 200th appearance as a manager in a competition he has triumphed in a record four times. However, he acknowledges that it won’t be an easy task. Despite his side’s impressive eight-point lead at the summit of LaLiga, the Italian manager expressed his nerves, stating during a press conference, “Yes, very nervous. The hours before a match are a time when you have to suffer
The 64-year-old manager delved into the emotional dynamics of defeat and victory, reflecting, “I was thinking the other day that defeat is suffering and victory is happiness, but it’s not that way. Victory is relief.” Ancelotti emphasized that while winning trophies brings happiness, individual victories are more of a sense of relief. He elaborated, “You’re calmer and happier the days after, but suffering is part of your job. It’s what keeps you alive. It’s fuel for me
Facing off against Ancelotti is Pep Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the best managers of his generation. Guardiola, who achieved tremendous success with Barcelona before adding three Champions League titles to his resume, presents a formidable challenge for Ancelotti and his Real Madrid side
Ancelotti downplayed comparisons and emphasized his focus on his team’s performance rather than personal assessments. He stated, “Guardiola is a great coach, I don’t care much about what they think of me. I care what my club thinks. But Guardiola is a great coach and there’s no doubt about that
Reflecting on last year’s encounter, where Madrid took the lead in the first leg but faltered in the second, Ancelotti highlighted the importance of courage and personality in such high-stakes games. He admitted, “We didn’t play with courage and personality, which are fundamental aspects in this kind of game. We lacked that in the second leg.
“Ancelotti expressed confidence in his team’s ability to deliver their best performance, stating, “I’m confident we’re going to give our best. We have the quality to compete.” He acknowledged the balance of strengths between the two sides, anticipating, “We expect to be superior in some aspects and they will be superior in others