Ahead of the eagerly-awaited second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti spoke at a press conference. The Italian coach shared his expectations, confirmed the returns of key players and addressed the refereeing controversies shaking La Liga. Here are the highlights of his statements.
Based on what we saw in the first leg, what are you expecting tomorrow against City?
‘It’s going to be an entertaining, complicated and difficult game. We’ve prepared well for this game and worked on the recovery of our players. The idea is to reproduce the same intensity as in the first leg, while managing the difficulty of such a confrontation. It’s a duel that will be played out over 90 minutes, where every detail will count.’
‘Refereeing in La Liga remains an enigma’.
Do you have anything to say about the match against Rayo Vallecano?
‘There’s nothing to add. I’ve already given my opinion. What happened was quite surprising. One mistake after another was made against us, whether it was against Osasuna, Atlético… Three games in a row where we’ve been wronged by incomprehensible decisions.’
Do you feel more comfortable with refereeing in the Champions League?
‘The statistics speak for themselves. There are fewer controversies and fewer VAR interventions, which are only used when necessary. In the Champions League, only the best referees from each country officiate, and the quality is much higher.’
‘Guardiola and his 1%? A joke’
Do you buy Guardiola’s famous 1%?
‘He doesn’t really think about it. Tomorrow I’ll ask him before the game! He thinks he has more, just as we don’t think we have 99%. We have a small advantage, certainly, but we have to take advantage of it and play with the same intensity as we did in the first leg.’
Do you take into account precedents with a scoring advantage?
‘It’s a psychological aspect. Of course we know we have an advantage, but if we pretend to approach the game as 0-0, nobody will believe us. What we can do is adapt our approach and avoid calculations. The most important thing is to play with intensity and intelligence.’
Do you hope Bellingham avoid a penalty?
‘Obviously, yes. We’ll see what the authorities decide, but I hope for a favourable outcome.’
‘Rüdiger and Tchouaméni are ready
Between the return of Tchouaméni in midfield and the installation of Asensio in defence, do you have any doubts?
‘No doubts at all. You may have some, but I don’t. I had my doubts, but they’ve been dispelled. Rüdiger can play from the start, Tchouaméni can be used as a pivot and Asensio can play in central defence. We’ll see how Valverde recovers from his injury against Osasuna. Raúl could also play at right-back.’
‘VAR needs a rethink
What do you think about the use of VAR in La Liga?
‘I have my doubts. VAR was supposed to correct blatant errors, but it has become too intrusive a tool. You take away the naturalness of football for the sake of an image. Minor fouls become penalties, and some normal contact is deemed excessive. We need to find a balance.’
Do you think Mbappé is at his best?
‘I don’t see anything new. He’s motivated, in great shape and he handles the pressure very well. His calm and concentration are exemplary.’
Do you think the club’s letter to the RFEF is influencing refereeing decisions against Real Madrid?
‘I don’t want to comment on that.’
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