Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed overall satisfaction with his team’s performance in a 3-3 draw against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal clash. The match started poorly for Madrid as they fell behind 1-0 early on, but they managed to take a 2-1 lead thanks to an own goal from Ruben Dias and a clever Rodrygo nutmeg. However, impressive strikes from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol saw City regain the lead before Fede Valverde equalized with a thunderous volley late in the game.
In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Movistar, Ancelotti described the match as “very even, competitive, and hard-fought.” He acknowledged that Madrid started poorly but praised their comeback efforts and urged the team to maintain a high level of pressure. Ancelotti believed that Madrid could have potentially taken a 3-1 lead with missed chances from Jude Bellingham and Vinicius, highlighting the importance of maintaining energy and focus throughout the match.
Ancelotti rejected claims that his team was tired and suggested that conceding long-range goals to a team like City was difficult to prevent. Despite the defensive lapses, he commended his team’s overall defensive performance as long as their energy levels remained high. The coach also praised Rodrygo for his performance on the left wing, where he partnered effectively with Vinicius to create scoring opportunities. Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the team’s efforts, especially on the left side of the field.
Looking ahead to the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, Ancelotti emphasized the importance of competing and maintaining a positive attitude. He stressed the need for Madrid to be satisfied with their performance at the Bernabeu and predicted a positive outcome if they can replicate their competitive spirit in Manchester. Ancelotti remained optimistic about his team’s chances in the return leg and believed that they have a chance of achieving a positive result if they continue to compete at a high level. The coach’s message to his team was focused on maintaining confidence and replicating the performance in the second leg.
