Ancelotti said: “We’re going to give our best in all areas: mentally, physically and technically”
“In this kind of game, courage and personality are essential,” the Real Madrid coach said.

Before the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Real Madrid City and Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti had a press conference. The Real Madrid coach talked about the Santiago Bernabéu matchup with Manchester City, saying that getting the greatest result possible is what matters most in tomorrow’s match. The mental component is just as vital as the bravery and individuality we need to display on the field. We’ve had ample time to get ready, and we performed admirably. We’re going to give it our all tomorrow, mentally, physically, and technically, I’m sure of it. We are competitive because of our quality.

“This pairing is really intriguing. There are two teams playing against each other that are very different from one another while having many strong players on the field. It should be a really good game in terms of technical aspects. They will be superior in certain areas, and we anticipate being superior in others. After 180 minutes, the dominance will be evident. The better squad will be the one that emerges from the tie.”

Refereeing
“We’re not considering that. When getting ready for a game like this, there are more considerations. Four players are now on yellow cards; if one of them receives one more, a replacement player will take the field for the second leg. It has no bearing on the game tomorrow.

 

Guardiola comparisons
“I’m not bothered by it. I don’t give a damn about what they think of me because Guardiola is an excellent coach. Whatever my club thinks, I care. There is no denying Guardiola’s excellence as a coach.

The tie from the previous year
“Two essential components of this type of game—courage and personality—were lacking from our game. In the second leg, we were lacking something. During the game, there was evidently less football in certain circumstances as well. It was a technological issue in addition to a psychological one. They put a lot of pressure on us very on, and we failed to come up with any other options. In this tie, we wish to stay away from these things.

 

Do you feel uneasy?
Indeed, quite anxious. Personally, you have to endure suffering in the hours leading up to a match. It’s not true that triumph equals happiness and defeat equals misery, as I was thinking the other day. Relief is victory. Winning trophies makes you happy, but a small victory feels relieving. Days later, you’re happier and more at ease, yet suffering is a necessary part of your work. It is the source of your life. For me, it serves as fuel.

 

People
“Players with the highest caliber are the ones who finish games with the most points. Both clubs have a large number of players with numerous attributes. As usual, that will determine the outcome of the game. The players on the field decide the outcome of matches. In addition, the participants need to be dedicated to executing the plan in the best possible way and the approach needs to be obvious. These kinds of games involve many different elements, such as individual skill, duels, defenses, and counterattacks. Their performance must be optimal. We must effectively handle each of these factors.

 

Does Madrid possess more originality this year than last?
“We have many characteristics on the ball. Last year, we had Benzema, who was a main attraction. Despite not having a center forward this season, we’ve moved more to make up for it. We have benefited from it. One of the game’s keys can also be movement rather than establishing locations beforehand.

Belingham
“In the penalty area, he’s enjoying an excellent season. His physical prowess helps us much both defensively and offensively, as he creates space and offers movement up front. He’s really grown up. Despite his young age of twenty, he exudes professionalism, seriousness, and humility. Although his mind is quite developed for his age, he astonished us more as a person than as a player.

Arrangement
“I don’t believe the match contained anything out of the ordinary. You won’t make a mistake in the line-up, but I won’t give you any advice either. Although it’s possible to overlook one, the order is rather obvious. There are some doubts; I haven’t disclosed anything to the guys. I’ll let the group know tomorrow.

 

Anticipations
“The first leg is very important, because we’ve got the chance to play in our stadium and we should look to make the most of the small advantage we have” .

The athletes absent from the opposing team
“They have players out, but just like us, they have managed them really well. Center backs performed admirably when starting as full backs under Guardiola. They have a very sturdy back. They won’t be impacted.