May 08, (THEWILL) – Carlo Ancelotti has called on Real Madrid to stop Manchester City as a whole, not just striker Erling Haaland, in their UEFA Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.
Haaland, who has scored 12 goals in eight UCL matches, will lead a City side that looks “unstoppable” as a complete unit, according to Ancelotti. The Italian coach said Madrid’s plan was to stop a “complete team that plays good football, defends well, attacks, that has ideas,” rather than just Haaland.
Ancelotti said Manchester City’s team is more complete than last season, with more avenues to cause danger with Haaland in the side. “They have not changed their style, they are very well organised at the back and a team that handles the ball very well,” he said. Ancelotti’s Madrid team beat Manchester City in last season’s semi-finals despite losing in the first leg.
Real’s German midfielder, Toni Kroos, was quick to recall that outcome in response to those writing them off saying: “It was the same a year ago, no? That Madrid were out, and we did it.” THEWILL recalls that Wayne Rooney recently suggested City would “blow away” Madrid in the tie.
Despite City’s lethal edge, Madrid is confident of winning. “It doesn’t motivate us more either because it’s impossible to be more motivated than we are,” Kroos said.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
