Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid are “satisfied” with Tuesday’s 3-3 Champions League quarter-final draw with Manchester City, demanding a repeat performance in next week’s second leg.
Madrid fought back from 1-0 and 3-2 down in a pulsating first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Federico Valverde’s volley completing the scoring and ensuring there is nothing to separate the teams ahead of next Wednesday’s return fixture.
Bernardo Silva’s clever free-kick caught Andriy Lunin out for the opener, but a Ruben Dias own goal and a deflected Rodrygo finish put Madrid in the ascendency before half-time.
Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol then found the net with rasping long-range strikes within five second-half minutes to leave Madrid staring at defeat, but Valverde’s volley capped a thrilling contest.
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City thrashed Madrid 4-0 on home soil in last season’s semi-finals after earning a first-leg draw in Spain, but Ancelotti does not believe Los Blancos are out of this tie.
“What I wanted was to take a small advantage there, but we have to be satisfied,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“It was a very even match, very competitive, hard-fought. When we were able to press high we did it very well and we tried to take advantage of transitions.
“We competed and if we do so again in the second leg, we can go through. We are going to try to play a game like the first leg.
“It was a great game and we are satisfied with what we have done, so we will try to do the same in Manchester.”
👔 @MrAncelotti has become the first coach to reach 200 matches in the @ChampionsLeague!#RealFootball | #UCL pic.twitter.com/9KTAppYKdY
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 9, 2024
Ancelotti has a selection dilemma in the heart of defence after Aurelien Tchouameni – who stood in at centre-back on Tuesday – picked up a yellow card which leaves him suspended for next week’s game.
That could mean Eder Militao is handed his first start since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of the season, while Ancelotti is confident Nacho Fernandez could also slot into Madrid’s backline with ease.
Asked if Tchouameni’s suspension was cause for concern, the Italian said: “No, because we have the option of Nacho, in whom we always have confidence, and we might also have Militao.
“The question will be Nacho or Militao. We are confident that something good can happen. The pitch is the same size, we only have the disadvantage of not having our fans.”
🗣️ @MrAncelotti: “We can put in a repeat of today’s performance.”#UCL pic.twitter.com/sR2gTuW3OC
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 9, 2024
