Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has emphasized that his squad must stop the entire City team, not only Erling Haaland, in their Champions League semi-final match against Manchester City on Tuesday.
This season, the Norwegian striker has scored 12 goals in eight Champions League games,According to FirstPost
Despite admitting that Haaland is a dangerous player, Ancelotti feels City are a “unstoppable” squad that plays good football, defends well, and attacks with ideas. “We’re not setting up for a game to stop Haaland, but to stop a team that seems unstoppable,” he said at Monday’s press conference. “But I think we can have chances to have an equal game, one that we can win.”
Ancelotti also stated that with the signing of Haaland, City had become a more complete team than previous year. “Today, they can take advantage of long balls more because they have a very tall striker and (Kevin) De Bruyne behind him, so they can win balls in the air,” he remarked.
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Meanwhile, Real Madrid player Toni Kroos dismissed Wayne Rooney’s previous remark that City would “blow away” Madrid in the match. Kroos recalled Madrid’s semi-final victory over Manchester City last season, stating, “It was the same a year ago, no?” Madrid was out, and we did it.”
The first leg of the semi-final will be held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday, with Madrid hosting Pep Guardiola’s visitors. Despite the fact that City has been attempting to win the Champions League for quite some time, Haaland’s lethal edge provides them a good chance of defeating Madrid and reaching the final. Ancelotti, on the other hand, is concerned with the entire City squad, not just Haaland.
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