NO, WE’RE NOT WEIRD... WE’RE JUST WINNERS

FROM JOHN CROSS in Munich

CARLO ANCELOTTI has answered Bernardo Silva and says Real Madrid’s European record proves their quality.

Silva claimed Real Madrid are a “weird team” after the Spanish giants knocked Pep Guardiola’s men out of the Champions League on penalties in the last round.

Manchester City midfielder

Silva (top) was actually paying Madrid a compliment by insisting they can surprise opponents and it is difficult to control the 14-time European champions.

But Real Madrid boss Ancelotti said: “We are not strange. We are a team that can show the history of the past in this competition.

“There is nothing I have to say to Bernardo Silva. He is a great, gigantic player and last year they made it to the final and now it is up to us.”

The Italian almost turned the pre-match rituals into a love-in with Thomas Tuchel, who called his opposite number a “legend”.

In return, Ancelotti said he regarded the Bayern Munich boss as a “genius”.

Ancelotti says he also fears that his old club are a dangerous opponent, proven by their quarter-final triumph over Arsenal.

He added: “Tuchel is a great coach. In terms of tactics, he is a genius and his team are always well prepared and trained.

“We are confident, we have faith, we have respect for this Bayern team. They have not played a fantastic season in the Bundesliga but against Arsenal in a spectacular match they played very well.

“Arsenal are a strong team and it was two matches that were spectacular.

“This shows the quality and history of this club, comparable to the history we have.”

Ancelotti laughed when he was asked a question in German as he could not remember the language from the year he spent in Bavaria.

He said: “I remember Munich, a nice city and, unluckily, German was difficult to get into my head. My son speaks better German and I am sorry. I have forgotten a lot of things. It is a beautiful city, a spectacular city to live in.”