2024-09-03 21:36:31
How is this explained?“It’s inexplicable. We started well, we got ahead and then we started to defend, to suffer, to qualify. We thought we would play differently, but by getting ahead we lowered the block too much. And City had more control. They always do. I think we defended very, very well.”
What an exercise in survival!: “Madrid has done it many times. It is this badge. In the shootout we were convinced that we would qualify. Andrey had a fantastic game. I really like it when a team makes sacrifices, fights. And also the quality. Here we could only win in this way.”
What did Guardiola say to him?: “He congratulated us on qualifying. He wished us luck. He is a gentleman. This club, City, is a club of gentlemen.”
Does the device have any battery left?: “We are doing very well, we have no physical problems. We have time until Sunday. We are going to recover and we have to realise that we did something very good. Everyone thought we were dead, but nobody can do that, Madrid never dies.”
What conclusion does this victory leave you with?: “On our part, we did very well in defence. City tries to create a lot of problems. We did very well.”
Ancelotti in the mixed zone
How did you see the match?: “We took advantage of the opportunity we had. We tried to start the match strong, not like last year, with more pressure. It worked out well for us, because we scored early. And then we had to defend, fight and sacrifice. For me, it was the only way to get out of this tie alive.”
Have you suffered more today than the day against Chelsea two years ago?: “This tie has always been close. When we changed the system we arranged the back line a little better. We are quite used to them having possession. In the penalties there was a lot of confidence in the players, they were very calm, I was not so much. In the end it worked out well.”
How did you see the penalties?: “They all took very good penalties. We were very surprised by Rüdiger, because we have not taken penalties well this season, but they all did well.”
Just as there was talk of Sacchi’s Milan, is this Ancelotti’s Madrid? “No. This is Madrid’s Madrid. I am part of this group. I am very proud. This team has an extraordinary commitment, which has been forged this season with the injuries at the beginning. I think everyone is very focused on how to defend and they are doing well.”
Fifth semi-final in five seasons at Madrid. And will they make it to a third final? “And if my grandmother had wheels… We have to play the semi-final. We are very happy to reach the semi-final, especially after eliminating the European champions, who are a great team.”
What did Guardiola tell him?: “He congratulated us. He wished us luck for the semi-final. Guardiola is a gentleman, like this club. This is a club of gentlemen.”
The last times Madrid beat the reigning champions, they won the Champions League…: “Statistics are meant to be broken.”
Source: AS NEWSPAPER