MADRID: Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his belief that his team can handle the pressure of their Champions League return leg against local rivals Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, aiming to secure a spot in the tournament's quarterfinals.
After a narrow 2-1 victory in the first leg, thanks to goals from Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz, Ancelotti addressed the media before the crucial match, acknowledging that this round of 16 is "more complicated than in previous years," yet he remains optimistic, stating, "we are confident."
He recognized that his players would need to dig deep to advance to the last eight.
"Matches against Atletico have always been fiercely contested; sometimes they emerge victorious, and other times we do," he noted, revealing that the team has prepared for the possibility of a penalty shootout.
"When compiling the list of penalty takers, we consider what we've observed in training—factors like a player's precision, confidence, and their approach to the goalkeeper. When it comes to a shootout, the mental aspect is crucial. It often outweighs the technical side," Ancelotti explained.
In conclusion, he mentioned that while he could anticipate the tactics of Atletico's coach Diego Simeone for Wednesday's match, he prefers to concentrate on his own team's strategy, as Atletico can adopt various styles of play, whether offensive, defensive, or counter-attacking.
Kylian Mbappe missed Tuesday's training session, but the club remains optimistic about his availability for the match on Wednesday.
