Carlo Ancelotti feels uneasy about the possibility of Real Madrid facing Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16 play-off for the 2024-25 season.
Real Madrid and Man City Secure Play-Off Spots
Real Madrid reached the play-off after beating Stade Brest 3-0 on Wednesday, 29 January, finishing in 11th place. On the same night, City defeated Club Brugge 3-1 and took 22nd place.
The draw for the play-off round takes place tomorrow, Friday. Madrid could get either Manchester City or Celtic, while City are likely to face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Ancelotti Hopes Madrid Avoid Man City
After Madrid’s win over Brest, Ancelotti spoke in a press conference and admitted he would rather not face City in the next round. He told Marca: “We have to wait for the draw. If we get City, it will be tough for both teams.”
He continued: “It’s simple, we don’t like playing against them, but if we have to, we will, just like in previous years. That’s how the draw works. To win the Champions League, you must beat every team you face.”
Ancelotti Unhappy With Champions League Format
Ancelotti criticised the new Champions League format, saying: “There are too many matches. We have already played a lot, and instead of adding more, we need to remove some.”
Madrid Focused After Beating Brest
Looking back at Madrid’s win, Ancelotti said: “We played with better organisation and used the ball well from the back. It’s a good time for the team, and we must keep going.” He also admitted: “We played well, but it’s a shame we didn’t wake up earlier in this tournament.”
Madrid are the current Champions League holders but still need to play in the Round of 16 play-off. The first-leg matches take place on 11 and 12 February, while the return legs happen on 18 and 19 February.
