The stage is set for another thrilling encounter between two of Europe’s most dominant forces, as Manchester City prepares to host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Tuesday.
This marks the fourth consecutive year the two clubs will face off in what has become one of the most anticipated rivalries in European football.
Ancelotti Talks about City’s Persistent Threat
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s seasoned manager, has admitted that Manchester City still gives his team plenty of headaches.
Despite City’s recent struggles, winning only eight of their last 23 matches across all competitions, Ancelotti insists that form often goes out the window when these two teams meet.
“Whether they are in form or not, City are one of the best teams in Europe,” he said, adding that preparing for a match against Pep Guardiola’s side is always a difficult task.
Ancelotti also shared his belief that whoever emerges victorious in this play-off could very well go on to lift the Champions League trophy in Munich this May.
“The last three years, whoever won this tie went on to win the Champions League,” he noted, highlighting the importance of this match in shaping the future of the competition.
Guardiola Expresses Uncertainty About City’s Form
For his part, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that he is uncertain about which version of his team will show up on Tuesday.
While he welcomed the return of his full defensive lineup and £50 million signing Nico Gonzalez to training, Guardiola acknowledged that his team has been inconsistent this season, and he’s unsure how they will perform in such a high-pressure match. “We were unstable this season when we weren’t in the past,” he said.
“Of course we can perform well, I don’t know how we’ll react.”
A Clash That Could Have Come Later
Ancelotti also expressed some surprise at the timing of the match.
With the revamped UEFA competition format, both teams found themselves in the play-off round after less-than-ideal group-stage performances.
“It surprises me we’re in a play-off,” Ancelotti said, reflecting on how the clash could have easily come later in the tournament.
Despite this, he acknowledged that City’s recent form had been strong, praising their competitiveness in the last few games.
The Ballon d’Or Boycott Adds Extra Drama
The tension between the two teams has been further fueled by their differing views on the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony.
While Guardiola brushed off Real Madrid’s boycott of the event, Ancelotti doubled down on the decision in support of Vinicius Junior, who he believed deserved the award over City’s Rodri.
“We didn’t want to participate because we thought Vinicius was the winner,” Ancelotti explained, adding that he still holds Rodri in high regard but felt that the midfielder’s moment had come the previous year.
As the two teams prepare to meet once again, the stage is set for an exciting and potentially explosive encounter, with both managers and players fully aware of the significance of this match in their quest for European glory.
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