Carlo Ancelotti described Real Madrid's preparations for their play-off collision of Champions League against Manchester City as a “nightmare”.
Madrid Square on Tuesday against Pep Guardiola in the Etihad Stadium, with the winners of the last three titles that are confronted for a fourth consecutive season.
Indeed, this will only be the fourth match in the history of the European Cup / Champions League that is played in four straight campaigns, after Deportivo de la Coruna v Juventus (four from 2000-01 to 2003-04), Chelsea against Liverpool ( Five out of 2004 -05 to 2008-09) and Atletico Madrid against Madrid (four from 2013-14 to 2016-17).
Although they have only lost three of their 12 games against them in the competition, the citizens are more often eliminated from the knockout phases of the Champions League than by any other opponent (three).
And Ancelotti, who won four of his 12 games against Guardiola during his management career, believes that the rivalry between the two teams has become the largest in Europe.
“It feels like a modern classic because we have been playing against each other in this competition for many years,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday.
“I think it fits just as entertaining and evenly as always. So much depends on posture, individual quality, trust and personality.
“It is such a high level that you have to get the best in every aspect of the game, not just one.
“The person who continues will have a good chance of going far in the competition, as has been the case in recent years.”
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Ancelotti talks from experience after his side won the Champions League in 2022 and last year, after he had eliminated the city in the Knock outphat of the competition.
The Madrid boss also rejected the idea that Real would be confronted with a weakened opponent compared to the person they have encountered in recent years.
City struggled in the Premier League this season and was fifth after an unprecedented form of form against the end of last year who dented their title loop.
The side of Guardiola is 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, but those problems transferred in their European campaign. They needed a victory at Club Brugge in their last competition of the competition phase to book their place in the Knock Rondonde.
Ancelotti, however, still expects a tough fight and says: “The reality is that that is always a headache (playing against Manchester City).
“Guardiola is a coach who has brought a lot of football, an innovator and I have a lot of respect for him. He is one of the best, if not the best.
“Every time we play against each other, it is a nightmare to prepare for the games, because he always has ideas that make you think.
“City is still one of the best teams in Europe, they have the best coach, and they are the most difficult rival we could have played with.”
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