Carlo Ancelotti has crushed Pep Guardiola's statement that Manchester City has only a 'one percent' chance to claim Real Madrid in the play-offs of the Champions League.
Madrid bears a 3-2 lead in Wednesday's second stage, after Jude Bellingham scored a final gasp winner in the Etihad last week. City will now have to win at the Bernabeu, an achievement that they have only managed once in the six visits they have paid to the Spanish capital.
That victory came five years ago, in February 2020, before the COVID-19 Pandemie Football closed. City starts the game on the back of a 4-0 win over the top four Rivals Newcastle, while Madrid pulled with Osasuna in their last outing.
In that result, Los Blancos lost their lead at the top from La Liga to Barcelona. And Ancelotti believes that the limiting recent form of the two parties means that City cannot yet be considered from the Champions League.
“He doesn't really think so,” said Ancelotti. “We don't think we have a 99% chance. We have a small advantage and we have to use it. We have to play the same game as in the first stage, because it went well.
“But we have to take into account the difficulties. We try to prepare ourselves well. We are not happy with what happened against Osasuna, Atletico (Madrid) – games in which we were disadvantaged and I don't understand.
“In the last few games [referees] have made a number of fairly clear errors. The statistics speak for themselves. In Europe there is less controversy. In the Champions League officially the best referees from every country and the quality is very high. “
While Ancelotti is approaching the game on Wednesday with caution, Guardiola has hinted that he has given up everything but gave up by going the last 16 of the Champions League. The Spaniard insisted that Haming Newcastle was a rare one -off version of his side.
“Of course the victory helps us, but the margin to win in the Bernabeu, in that position everyone knows that if you ask before the game, the percentage to continue, I don't know when we arrive, one per per is Cent, “said Guardiola.
“It will be minimal, but as much if you have a chance, we will try, that's for sure, you know? So we go there, as always, as we have done, but this season is the reality that we have been miles and miles far away.
“We finished 22nd in the Champions League table, but if we had performed the way we did today, we would of course not have been completed higher. But we have been really, really bad in designs and in the results this season.
“Only one game, today we played very well. It will not change the opinion, the reality of where the team is now, and we are still not good, in terms of day to day, that is that.
“So the chance is small because the result was not good. With five minutes to go, because it is 2-1, it would be different, but losing 3-2, the chances are less, but as much as you have a chance, we will take it, and we will see what's there happens. “
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