Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is not bothered by talk of Manchester City as Champions League favourites, but insists that LaLiga and Serie A teams can rival EPL clubs.
Manchester City beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, with Ancelotti’s Real Madrid beating Chelsea 2-0 a day later to set up a potential semi-final clash with Manchester City.
Madrid have won five Champions Leagues in the past nine seasons, including last year’s final against Liverpool in Paris, while Manchester City are yet to win European football’s biggest prize.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday, when asked about Manchester City’s status as favorites to win the Champions League this season.
“English football has teams that compete very well. They are very strong. So it doesn’t surprise me if they are the favourites,” he continued.
“But in Europe we see the opposite. Last year Spanish football had two teams [Real Madrid and Villarreal] in the [Champions League] semi-finals, this year Italy has three teams [Napoli, AC Milan and Inter] in the quarter-finals,” Ancelotti continued. .
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid have an excellent record against Premier League clubs, beating Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool last year, and knocked out Liverpool in the last 16 this season.
“European football is more competitive than people think, especially England, who think they have the strongest, most spectacular league,” said Ancelotti.
“But when they play in Europe they compete with other leagues and teams with less money to invest, but still compete, like Spain.”
Carlo Ancelotti says he will not trade Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior for Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, calling both “fantastic players.”
The Italian also said that despite the speculation over his future, he hopes to remain in charge at the Bernabeu next season, with a contract running until 2024.
“I think [president Florentino Perez] wants me to continue,” said Ancelotti.
“He was always very dear [to me] and he is still… The club is calm and I am sure we will be here next season, because we will respect my contract,” he continued.
