Ahead Of Manchester City Vs Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti: Our Goal Is The Final, Usually The Chance To Win A Trophy Is Bigger
JAKARTA - Manchester City will host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, Tuesday, April 26 local time or Wednesday April 27 in the morning WIB.
Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, revealed his team's determination to qualify for the final round. According to him, Real Madrid's chances of becoming champions will be greater if they have set foot in the top party.
"For us, reaching the semi-finals does not represent success. We want to reach the final," Ancelotti was quoted as saying by Real Madrid's official website.
"Our goal is to reach the final, because when Real Madrid are in the final they usually have a greater chance of winning the trophy in the end."
Carlo Ancelotti once led Real Madrid to win the Champions League in 2013-14, which was Los Blancos' 10th trophy at that time and was famous as La Decima. A success he wants to repeat this season.
The 62-year-old coach then reminded, the match at the Etihad tomorrow will not determine anything. This follows the abolition of the away goal advantage rule forcing teams in the knockout stages to manage two-legged matches better.
"This semi-final will not be decided later. It will be decided when we come back and play at the Bernabeu," said Ancelotti.
"You have to manage the game with. Changes to the away goals rule make things more open. We have fought and everything is going well so far, there is no doubt that we will fight hard again," he concluded.
In the Champions League knockout stages, Real Madrid beat City 1-0 on aggregate in the 2015-16 semifinals before lifting the championship trophy. The Citizens replied to that in the round of 16 of the 2019-20 edition.