By Peter Ochieng
The 2023/2024 Champions League action moves to the quarter final stage this week and next week, with Real Madrid versus Manchester City being one of the key fixtures on the cards.
Madrid will hots City in the Spanish Capital for the first leg of the quarter final encounter, on Tuesday night.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has won the Champions League four times – the only coach to do so, twice with the Spanish giants and twice with Italian side AC Millan.
With vast experience gannered over the years, one would think that Ancelotti is well prepared to handle pressure at any stage of the Champions League, but that seems not to be the case.
The Italian tactician says he is very nervous ahead of the Manchester City clash.
“I am very nervous before a game on a personal level, its all suffering. Defeat is suffering and victory is relief, not happiness. Suffering and stress keep you alive,” said the former Everton, Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss.
The two sides met at the semi final stage of last season’s Champions League action. The first leg in Madrid ended 1-1 before City won the second leg 4-0 on the road to being crowned champions for the first time in history.
Ancelotti says his players played without character and courage, and that the opportunity to revenge is here.
“We played without courage, without personality. Courage and personality are fundamental in this type of game. We lacked them in the second leg,” he said, as quoted by AFP.
“In terms of courage and personality, we have had time to prepare for the game. We have prepared very well, and I am confident that we will give our best and we’ve got the quality to complete.”
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger said they are up to the task.
“For this game, the plan is to try and control dangerous players like Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and of course Haaland,” he stated.
Arsenal will tackle Bayern Munich in the other match on Tuesday night.
PSG versus Barcelona and Borrussia Dortmund versus Athletico Madrid come up on Wednesday.
Second legs will be played next week.
