Champions League: Ancelotti Acknowledges Slim Chances After Madrid's Defeat to Arsenal
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Synopsis
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's coach, admitted the team's chances of advancing in the Champions League are slim after a 3-0 loss to Arsenal. He emphasized the need to fight for victory, recalling that 'stranger things have happened at the Bernabeu.' Arsenal seized a strong position with this impressive win.
Key Takeaways
- Real Madrid faces a tough challenge after a 3-0 loss.
- Arsenal's second-half performance was dominant.
- Declan Rice scored two remarkable free kicks.
- Ancelotti remains hopeful despite slim chances.
- Football can be unpredictable, as noted by Ancelotti.
London, April 9 (NationPress) Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that Real Madrid’s prospects of advancing to the Champions League semifinals are quite slim following a shocking 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of the quarterfinals. However, he emphasized that his team will endeavor to achieve the improbable, stating that stranger things have occurred at the Bernabeu.
Arsenal delivered a remarkable performance in the second half in north London, positioning themselves strongly ahead of the return leg in Madrid.
"This is a difficult loss. It was unexpected. The team appeared solid and organized during the first half. After conceding two set-piece goals, we faltered both mentally and physically. The final stages of the game were tough, as we didn’t exhibit the usual reaction we expect from this squad.
"The last 30 minutes were particularly disappointing. There are two perspectives here: one where I felt satisfied until it was 0-0, and another regarding our poor response after their goals," Ancelotti commented during the post-match press conference.
“We must do everything possible to turn this around. The likelihood is very low, but we will attempt it in every way we can. Let’s see if we can achieve it. It appears as though the odds are against us after tonight, but football is unpredictable. No one anticipated Arsenal scoring two free kicks, yet anything is possible. It's very challenging, but stranger things have happened at the Bernabeu," he added.
Declan Rice etched his name into Arsenal history with two stunning free kicks, while Mikel Merino contributed to the scoreline, granting the Gunners a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Spain as Mikel Arteta’s side aims to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009.
Regarding Arsenal’s display, Ancelotti remarked, "They exhibited superior attitude, more quality, and impressive fitness. They performed numerous aspects better than us, and we need to be honest about our performance. We weren’t too bad for an hour; we played reasonably well in the first half."
