Real Madrid is already in Munich, a city that brings back good and bad memories, the same as for Ancelotti, who coached Bayern but could not win the Champions League because Real Madrid also eliminated him. The Italian coach offered a press conference very much in line with him. He was very respectful of the rival, but he also stuck out his chest: “We are happy to be here because few, even in this room, thought that I would make it to this press conference and here I am. From there, confidence to play in a semifinal that can lead us to play another Champions League final. But let’s not forget that this lasts 180 minutes.”
Ancelotti had very complimentary words for Bayern. “It is a club with a history that is more or less like ours. They haven’t had a great Bundesliga, but they did have a good tie against Arsenal, which is a very strong team in Europe. “It’s true that in the Champions League, history counts a lot and that works in our favor.”
Ancelotti was also asked how Real Madrid and Bayern were similar: “They both have a lot, they are strong in transition and can play in different ways. They are very dangerous like us. We are two teams that do not have a very clear identity. Both We can play in different ways.”
Ancelotti did not want to comment much about his time at Bayern: “Munich is a very beautiful city, fantastic to live in. Unfortunately the German language has never entered my head. My son did, he learned it very well.”
The Italian coach denied that tomorrow will be a duel between coaches: “The most important role is never that of the coach. I am very clear that there are two types of coaches: those who do nothing and those who do a lot of damage. I try to be In the first ones, the game belongs to the players and you can give them a certain strategy, convince them, but then determine their quality and commitment. A coach has to focus on the group understanding the importance of teamwork.
Bernardo Silva described Real Madrid as a “strange” team these days. Ancelotti does not believe it: “I don’t know. We are not strange. I think the weight of the shirt weighs in this competition, like history, but I have nothing to answer Bernardo Silva.”
The Madrid coach did not give details about the lineup. Yes, he said that Tchouaméni will play, but not where. He has recovered players: “I know I will be unfair to those who don’t play but it’s like that all year round. My job has that.”
He also commented that he is not preparing anything special: “I have not thought of any tactical variant. We must carefully evaluate how to play, without losing our identity, which is very clear. Tomorrow it will be very important to defend well, avoid counterattacks and attack well. A semi-final requires a match complete. You can’t fail at anything,” he concluded.
Before Ancelotti, Fede Valverde stopped by the press room. The Uruguayan does not believe that luck decided the tie against City, but it is important: “Luck is needed a little. If not, look at City a couple of years ago. The normal thing would have been to leave, we got two balls on the line and we pass. The ‘luck of the champion’, it is said. You have to take advantage of it, when you have it. And know that sometimes it is on the other side.
Valverde praised his team’s defense: “Our defenders are world class. First, we have to respect our defenders and, second, the forwards in front of us. In the Champions League all teams deserve respect and all the games are very complicated. But we have a lot of quality, dedication and desire to play, so let the people know that too.”