Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday. He claimed that his Manchester City counterpart, Pep Guardiola, was deliberately underestimating the English side’s hopes. He believed their chances of reaching the Champions League last 16 were downplayed.
European champions Real Madrid hold a 3-2 lead on City. City have struggled this season. They are fourth in the Premier League. The play-off round second leg is on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After thrashing Newcastle 4-0 on Saturday, Guardiola spoke about City’s prospects. The English champions have only a one per cent chance of ousting the record 15-time European Cup winners.
He does not truly think that. Tomorrow I’ll ask him before the game, do you really think you’ve got a one per cent chance?” Ancelotti told a news conference.
He really thinks they have got more chance than that… we don’t think we have 99 per cent chance.
We think we have a small advantage. We need to make the most of this advantage. Let’s try to play the same game we set up in the first leg. It went well.
Ancelotti confirmed that defender Antonio Rudiger was fit to start for the holders. Lucas Vazquez, however, would only be ready for the bench.