Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti claims his side had to play an ultra defensive football to have any hope of defeating Manchester City in their quarter-final UEFA Champions League second leg clash on Wednesday night.
After allowing just eight shots on goal and giving up 67% of the possession in 120 minutes of play, los Blancos needed penalties to eliminate Pep Guardiola’s team from the Champions League quarterfinals.
According to 90min, some have criticized Ancelotti’s tactics, but he maintained that was the only way Madrid could stop City.
“We started well, got ahead and then started to defend, to suffer to qualify,” Ancelotti said. “We thought of playing differently, but when we got ahead, we lowered the block too much, and City had more control. They always have that.
“Madrid has done this many times. It’s this badge. We were convinced we would qualify. I really like it when a team sacrifices and fights. Here, you could only win this way.
“We took advantage of the opportunity we had. We tried to start the game strong, not like last year, to have more pressure.
“It turned out well for us because we scored early. And then the plan was to defend, to fight and to sacrifice. For me, it was the only way to get out of this tie alive.”
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Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde even went so far as to acknowledge that City were the superior team that evening.
“Madrid is always there,” Valverde told Movistar+. “Obviously, the opponent was better and played better football, but we are Real Madrid.”
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