Ancelotti: “It’s our fault that we’re already playing against Man. City, not UEFA’s”
Real Madrid coach previewed clash against the Citizens and praised Pep Guardiola
Real Madrid and Manchester City , winners of the last three editions of the UEFA Champions League – twice for the Spanish side and once for the English side – face each other this season in the play-off for access to the round of 16, after both teams disappointed in the first phase, in the debut year of the new format of the competition.
In recent years the two teams have faced each other regularly in the competition, but at a later stage, and the team that wins the tie has won the competition in the last three editions, a situation that was commented on by the Merengues’ coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
«It already looks like a classic. We have faced each other in this competition for many years. It’s difficult to predict what will happen, but it will be an entertaining game”, he began by saying, leaving a message for the team. “I am convinced that the team that gets through this round will go far. But I have to say that if we are playing in this play-off, it is not UEFA’s fault, it is only our fault”, he stressed, not forgetting Real Madrid ‘s 12th place in the first phase.
The truth is that the Citizens did even worse, finishing in 22nd place, and despite having a disappointing season in the Premier League as well (5th place, 15 points behind the leader), they received a lot of praise from the Italian coach.
“I still think Manchester City have one of the best teams in the world, that they have the best coach in this competition and that this is one of the most difficult games we can have,” he stressed.
The praise for Pep Guardiola did not stop there, with Ancelotti highlighting the constant innovation that the Catalan imposes on his teams and classifying the preparation for games as a “nightmare”.
«He is a coach who gave a lot to football. It seems like you always have something new to give your teams. He is an innovator in football and I respect him a lot. Whenever we face each other, it’s a nightmare to prepare the games because there are always ideas that make you think», he highlights.
