Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, has said that the upcoming match against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 will be both fun and frustrating at the same time.
The match between Manchester City and Real Madrid will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, February 11, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. It is expected to be a thrilling encounter that will attract the attention of football fans, despite both teams struggling with results recently.
Ancelotti: Manchester City match is fun and annoying
Ancelotti believes the match against Manchester City will be exciting, saying in his press conference today, Monday, as reported by Spanish newspaper Marca: “The match between Real Madrid and Manchester City will be fun and balanced, just like other encounters.”
“It feels like a Clasico because we’ve faced each other so often in this competition in recent years. It’s hard to predict what will happen because many factors are involved. These are high-level games where you have to be at your best in every aspect, not just one,” he added.
The Italian manager also expressed his frustration with the fact that Manchester City and Real Madrid meet in the last 16 of the Champions League, saying: “It’s always annoying when these two teams face each other in this round, but the truth is when Manchester City knocked us out, they were the champions, and vice versa. I believe whoever wins this match will go further in the tournament.”
He continued: “It’s not UEFA’s fault that these two teams are facing each other at this stage, it’s our fault. This match could have been in the final, semi-final, or quarter-final, but again, it’s our fault because of the results we got in the first round.”
Ancelotti: Preparing for matches against Guardiola is like a nightmare
Ancelotti admitted that preparing for matches against Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is like a nightmare, saying: “I think Guardiola has contributed a lot to football with his approach to possession, attacking play, pressing, and building from the back. He is an innovative coach, and I have great respect for him.”
He added: “He is one of the best coaches, if not the best. Every time we face each other, it’s like a nightmare preparing for the match, because he always comes up with ideas that make you think hard to try to stop them.”
Experts and football specialists expect the tactical battle between Guardiola and Ancelotti to be intense as they both look to lead their teams to victory and keep their hopes alive for qualification in the second leg, which will be held at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
