Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Real Madrid deliberately targeted one Manchester City weakness in their Champions League victory.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that his side deliberately targeted Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson in their 3-2 Champions League win on Wednesday.
Los Blancos scored two late goals to snatch victory from City, who had been leading 2-1 with minutes to spare.
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What Ancelotti said about exploiting Ederson
Ancelotti admitted that his tactical plan involved putting pressure on Ederson when he had the ball, forcing him to make mistakes.
Ederson was at fault for two of Real Madrid’s goals in Manchester City’s late Champions League collapse (Credit: Imago)
This tactic paid off as Ederson’s poor pass led to Real Madrid’s equaliser, and his decision to rush out of his goal allowed Jude Bellingham to score the winner.
“We looked to press high when Ederson had the ball, and to drop to a mid-block when he didn’t, with the forwards coming inside and our midfielders not looking to push,” said the Real Madrid boss.
“With the ball, we wanted to create width, make the most of our quality, use the ball well and not get frustrated with long balls. In the end it all worked out.”
Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti faced off in last season’s Champions League quarter-final (Credit: Imago)
City manager Pep Guardiola defended the goalkeeper, stating that players sometimes make mistakes and that it is important to be brave and continue playing in the same way.
However, Guardiola also acknowledged that City had failed to manage the game properly in the closing stages and that they had paid the price for their mistakes.
“Eddy decided to play a long ball, it was not a good kick and they scored,” said Guardiola. “Maybe we played short and they scored and you say play long. Players take a decision in the moment – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but it’s not today, it has happened many times.
“Reflect and think and maybe in the future it will not happen and be brave for the next games. The previous games, the way we played we had to win for a big margin and it didn’t happen. Today was tighter.
“Madrid had chances and played good with the ball when in the past it didn’t happen. In the moments that we should have the situation we could not manage it but we arrived in the last minutes with a good result and we could not keep it.”
Pep Guardiola reacts during Manchester City’s Champions League encounter against Real Madrid (Credit: Imago)
The two sides will meet again in the second leg of their play-off tie at the Bernabeu next Wednesday. City will need to overturn the one-goal deficit if they are to progress to the round of 16.
What next for Man City?
Guardiola’s men host Newcastle United on Saturday, keen to stay in touch with third-placed Nottingham Forest and Chelsea in fourth to end in the guaranteed Champions League places.
Ancelotti’s men are in action against Osasuna in LaLiga, with victory keeping Los Blancos atop the Spanish top-flight standings.
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