Carlo Ancelotti Confident Madrid Will Stay Strong In Man City 2nd Leg

Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed his belief in his team’s ability to excel against Manchester City in the upcoming Champions League match, following a captivating 3-3 draw in the quarter-final first leg on Tuesday. In last season’s semi-final Madrid the 14-time champions, drew 1-1 against Pep Guardiola’s City at home but suffered a 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. Despite City taking the lead twice in the recent match against Madrid, the Los Blancos fought back, resulting in a closely contested game.

“We had the grit to get back into the game, now we have a small disadvantage because we play away from home, but with the confidence that we can repeat this performance,” Ancelotti told reporters.

Ancelotti acknowledged that his players lacked courage & personality during their visit to Manchester last season, but he emphasized that this year would bring a different outcome.

“Today we gave our best selves – we have the confidence of repeating the same in the second leg,” said the coach, who managed a record 200th game in the competition in the draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“The truth is the idea was to take a small lead, maybe a 4-3, it wouldn’t change a lot of what I’d plan for the second leg,” he continued. “We started in a very bad way with a goal against us but the team managed the situation very well.”

Bernardo Silva put City in the lead with a free-kick, but a Ruben Dias own goal and Rodrygo’s goal propelled Madrid ahead. Phil Foden & Josko Gvardiol scored two impressive goals for City, while Fede Valverde secured a draw for Madrid with a powerful volley.