Carlo Ancelotti speaks out on ‘nightmare’ Pep Guardiola ahead of Man City vs Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti has described Pep Guardiola arsenic ‘the champion manager retired there’ and a ‘nightmare’ to hole for up of Real Madrid’s travel to look Manchester City connected Tuesday night.

The 2 European heavyweights clash successful the Champions League knockout play-off, with the archetypal limb successful Manchester earlier a travel to Madrid adjacent Wednesday.

Neither squad produced their champion worldly successful the radical signifier which is wherefore 1 volition autumn earlier the past 16 successful the revamped competition.

The Premier League champions person struggled to occurrence each play successful each competition, but Ancelotti is not going to beryllium taking them lightly, knowing afloat good what a beardown broadside and all-time large manager they possess.

The teams person met a batch successful caller years, playing 8 times since the commencement of 2020. City person won 4 of those games, with Real claiming 2 victories and 2 games ending level.

‘It seems similar it’s a Clasico,’ said Ancelotti. ‘Whether they are successful signifier oregon not, City are 1 of the champion teams successful Europe. It’s ever a headache facing City. They inactive person the champion manager retired there. It’s the astir hard crippled we tin face, whether they are successful signifier oregon not. If you’re not 100 per cent, you won’t get the result.

‘They are the astir important rival with the champion manager. It’s a nightmare for maine preparing against Pep (Guardiola) due to the fact that helium ever has ideas that marque you think.

‘The squad who passes this circular has the anticipation to spell acold successful the competition. The past 3 years, whoever won this necktie won the Champions League. Maybe it tin hap this twelvemonth arsenic well.’

Ancelotti’s squad are not struggling domestically, sitting apical of La Liga, portion City person been mediocre successful each competition, presently 5th successful the Premier League.

The Italian admits that Guardiola’s struggles person amazed him, arsenic person his ain team’s successful Europe.

‘It surprises maine we’re successful a play-off,’ helium said. ‘It’s our ain fault, but it’s a small spot astonishing we person to play this crippled erstwhile it could beryllium a semi-final.

‘I’m amazed astatine City’s season. They had a play wherever it was hard to determination connected with the injuries. But present the squad I’ve seen successful the past fewer games is good, competitory arsenic usual. I don’t person uncertainty astir however beardown City is.’

Guardiola is good alert of the situation that Real Madrid volition bring with them, labelling their beforehand 4 of Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham arsenic ‘impossible to control’ implicit 90 minutes.

‘It’s intolerable successful 90 minutes to power these 4 players,’ said Guardiola. ‘Everyone knows it. We person to trim their engagement arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, knowing it volition (not always) hap and judge that. Both teams had problems with injuries done the season.

‘Madrid handled it overmuch amended than us, apical of La Liga. They person shown the consistency and successful the pugnacious moments they bring their best. We person to marque 2 large games to spell through.’

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