The Italian coach will speak with his team prior to the play -off play -off -bone of the Champions League against the men of Guardiola, and his experience against Liverpool plays his role.
Carlo Ancelotti has transmitted his intention of Real Madrid's hierarchy to speak with the captains of the team and urged them to remind the team of the need to pent their euphoria after the victory in Manchester. The Italian coach will then personally strengthen the message to the entire team: they must remain fully focused for the decisive confrontation of next Wednesday against Pep Guardiola's city in the Bernabéu. Carlo expects City to be desperately in Chamartín and does not want his players to lose one of the qualities they have shown in England – work ethics, unity, teamwork and concentration.
Ancelotti's biggest coaching
The Real Madrid manager has painful memories of confronted with English teams in this competition. His biggest disappointment as a coach hit Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final, when his team handed over a three goals in just 45 minutes. Ancelotti tells the moment in his autobiography.
“We took an impressive 3-0 lead. The players shouted: 'Come on, we can do this! We win! “Those who were not selected were already set up the victory shirts under their suits … I let them settle and then told them:” A match has never passed British teams. We must be careful. We can't, we don't have to collapse. Let's arrange the ball and the game. Come on, Milan! “I didn't say anymore, I said no less.
“The second half started, and suddenly everything fell apart. It was a blackout that lasted six minutes, but they managed to equalize and force a penalty shootout that they won. When people ask me what went through my mind during the Liverpool comeback, my answer is simple: nothing. Zero. My brain was like the vacuum of space … “
That bitter memory makes him especially careful prior to next week's game. His primary focus, after Saturday's collision with Osasuna (where a squadronom slate is expected), is to bring a sense of urgency to his players. He will remind them that this is a winner-takes-all knockout draw, that only half of the battle was fought and that they compete against the reigning Champions League two. Trust and complacency are strictly forbidden in Valdebebas.
Vinicius and other contract interviews on hold
To maintain the concentration and intensity that is necessary to end the job against Manchester City, Ancelotti is of the opinion that personal matters – such as contract extensions – should be reserved. In this context, the recent Slip-up of Vinícius Júnior was well received after the last Champions League match was not received by the coach nor by the club, which enforces a strict policy to postpone contract discussions until the end of the season.
Vinícius is not the only player looking for a new deal. Others, such as Luka Modrić and Lucas Vázquez, see their contracts end in June, but have stopped on this. Marco Asensio, whose deal wants to improve the club, has also abandoned comments. For this reason, one of the most important guidelines within the team is clear: no contract discussions until June. That is the time for evaluations and decisions – at the moment all energy must be devoted to the last part of the season.
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