Carlo Ancelotti defended Real Madrid’s style of play in their penalty shootout win over Manchester City this week, and said he hasn’t met “a single fan” who was unhappy with their progression to the Champions League semifinals. The LaLiga giants eliminated City on penalties on Wednesday after the tie had finished 4-4 on aggregate, with Pep Guardiola’s team dominating much of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Ancelotti addressed the criticism in a news conference, emphasizing the importance of performing well both with and without the ball. Despite not having much possession in some games, Ancelotti believes that Madrid performed very well for 90 minutes and that the fans were pleased with the outcome.
Real Madrid will now face Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the Champions League, with the first leg scheduled for April 30. However, before that clash, they have a top-of-the-table El Clasico encounter with Barcelona in LaLiga on Sunday. Ancelotti acknowledged the importance of the upcoming matches, stating that the team is in a good position and needs to continue their good form. With a comfortable lead in LaLiga, a win against Barcelona would all but secure their title aspirations. Ancelotti expressed confidence in his team’s current form and emphasized the need to capitalize on their opportunities in the coming weeks.
Barcelona coach Xavi, known for his preference for possession football, also praised Real Madrid’s performance against Manchester City. Xavi recognized the difficulty of facing a strong opponent like City and commended Madrid for their defensive display. Despite the critics claiming luck played a role in Madrid’s success, Xavi disagreed and highlighted Madrid’s ability to eliminate top teams like City in recent years. Xavi’s comments come after Barcelona’s disappointing exit from the Champions League following a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain where tensions ran high. Xavi admitted to his own mistake of getting a red card during the match but assured that there are no internal issues within the team.
Following Barcelona’s Champions League exit and some public criticism from players, Xavi denied any ongoing problems within the team. Despite midfielder Ilkay Gundogan’s comments on defender Ronald Araujo’s red card in the PSG match, Xavi stated that the issues have been resolved and that there is no ill will lingering in the dressing room. Xavi admitted to the frustrating nature of the defeat but stressed the importance of moving forward and focusing on the remaining matches in the season. The Barcelona coach expressed optimism about the team’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and finish the season on a positive note.
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