Ancelotti banks on Real skill, spirit to overcome Guardiola’s slick City

Madrid, May 3 (EFE).- Real Madrid, fresh off the back of securing their 35th LaLiga title at the weekend, host Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday knowing that they will need to draw on every ounce of their collective skill, commitment and grit if they are to overturn the first leg 4-3 deficit and qualify for the final.

“Whenever you play a Champions League semi-final, it’s not something you can do out of sheer heart and motivation alone,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said at a press conference on the eve of the game.

“If we win tomorrow, it won’t be because we’re motivated or the magical atmosphere; it will be because of our collective commitment and the individual qualities of our players,” he added.

The Spanish powerhouse were close to being overwhelmed during long spells in the first leg, but they held on and managed to score three goals – including two from talisman Karim Benzema – that kept them alive in the tie.

“We did many good things,” Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola told a press conference Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, we conceded the goals and could have scored more. Both teams want to attack, both teams want to play.

“The football is a fantastic spectacle. The threat they have is always there, but we saw we can be there. For us, for Man. City, we are so proud. We’re going to Madrid to try to win the game,” he added. EFE

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