ANCELOTTI CALM BUT KNOWS A STORM IS BREWING
CARLO ANCELOTTI will spend today trying not to think about the twin threats posed by Manchester City pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
The Real Madrid manager was a picture of calm yesterday as he prepared for tonight’s blockbuster semi-final second leg, which is poised at 1-1.
But the Italian admitted the nerves will start fraying on game day when he sends out his side against the likes of Haaland, right, and De Bruyne to try to reach a 22nd final in the tournament. Ancelotti said: “Today I’m very calm, full of hope and faith.
“Tomorrow, on game day, that’s when the worries come in and you think things through, whether Haaland will score, Kevin De Bruyne will hurt you.
“You try to put it out of your mind, manage thoughts, but we are happy to be here and feeling good.
Real Madrid have reached the semi-final for the 11th time in 13 seasons and Ancelotti believes their experience in crunch matches could give them an advantage.
He said: “It is a usual event to be in a semi-final. We have done it 11 years out of 13 – that’s not easy.
“Now bravery and courage are vital in games like this, individual quality can’t show if you aren’t brave enough to try stuff.”
Ancelotti insisted the history of Real Madrid will motivate his side but insisted the players will have to work hard if they are to get past a classy City side.
He said: “If you think you are the best team in the world it doesn’t make it 100 percent sure you’ll win.
“It’s not just about quality in a semi-final, it can be personality, mentality, character. “These games put you under huge pressure. If you’ve not got the character and personality, you have to get over the challenge. We will have moments when we suffer but
that’s normal. Can you put your rival in difficulty after that?”
Luka Modric, who is aiming to win a sixth Champions League with Real Madrid, believes being close to another final will push his team-mates to the limit.
He said: “Knowing you are close to another final, you want to give everything you’ve got.
“It can give you extra motivation, more than you think you are capable of.
“We are close to this target and close to doing something historic.”