by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is undecided about what lies ahead against Liverpool despite Jurgen Klopp’s side facing a seemingly impossible task at the Bernabeu.
The Champions League holders recovered from two early goals at Anfield to win 5-2, and that three-goal lead – coupled with the fact he has failed to score just once in his last 66 home games in Europe – seems to have pissed him off just before the quarterfinals.
However, Ancelotti, who famously witnessed a remarkable 45-minute comeback from Liverpool as AC Milan manager in which they won the 2005 final, takes nothing for granted and can also point to last season’s quarter-final second leg at home to Chelsea – which they lost 3-2 from a 3-0 deficit and 10 minutes from progress in their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
If anything, Ancelotti wants his side to attack.
“The message is very simple: don’t accept it,” said the Italian.
“The players understand that I think it will be an open game as Liverpool come here and try to change the dynamic.
“We have to do both things right, attacking and defending. Not only will we defend, we will think about attacking.”
No team in Champions League history has ever lost and recovered a first leg in a three-goal knockout game.
Still, Ancelotti insists his side have the more difficult balancing act.
“From a psychological point of view, the game is more complex for us than for Liverpool,” he added.
“Liverpool come here to give it their all and do their best from the first minute, whatever happens. We saw that from the first leg.
“We’ll try to give everything from the start, but we have more questions than our opponents.”
Striker Karim Benzema is fit after missing out on the weekend’s win against Espanyol, but it’s winger Vinicius Jr – who scored the two goals to equalize before half-time at Anfield – who is likely to pose the greatest threat in the hosts’ main counterattack. plan of attack.
The Brazil international meets right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will almost certainly be encouraged to push forward at every opportunity while his side are chasing goals.
“I think Vinicius is well on his way to writing Real Madrid history in the years to come. It was written by (Toni) Kroos, (Luka) Modric, Karim, Casemiro – this group was incredible,” said Ancelotti.
Defender Antonio Rudiger was part of that Chelsea side that almost shocked last year but now he’s looking at things from the other side of the fence.
“They (Liverpool) have a good attacking team. They played against a big rival and scored seven goals, that tells me they qualify for big occasions and we have to be aware of that,” said the centre-back.
“But as my former coach (Thomas Tuchel) said when we played Real Madrid, everyone knows that with Benzema and Vinicius and their skills, Real Madrid are a very good counter team.
“My coach said you’re playing against Real Madrid, you’re playing against the badge and they always tell people that this badge is something bigger.”
