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The Italian manager believes Manchester City are much stronger this season compared to last season when his men knocked the Guardiola-coached outfit.
Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester City are a more “complete” team than the one his Real Madrid side beat in last season’s Champions League semi-final.
Los Blancos earned a stunning 6-5 aggregate victory over Pep Guardiola’s men last term, with Rodryo’s double and Karim Benzema’s extra-time winner ensuring a dramatic comeback for the Spaniards, who went on to beat Liverpool in the final.
City and Real Madrid meet again at the same stage of this year’s competition and while Ancelotti insists there will be no specific plan to stop Erling Haaland, the Italian admits the 51-goal striker has given the Premier League club a different dimension.
Asked about Haaland ahead of Tuesday’s first leg at the Bernabeu, Ancelotti said: “We don’t plan a game to stop one player, it’s to stop a team that is very dangerous.
“Obviously he’s a very dangerous player, he’s showing impressive quality. He’s scoring goals, he’s an obvious danger. But to talk only about Haaland is not to talk about a very solid team, that poses, that creates problems. They look unstoppable, but we have a chance to have a close, competitive game that we can win.
“I think what I can say is that they are a more complete team compared to last year.
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14:45 - 07.05.2023
FOOTBALL Ancelotti hails “difference making” Brazilian duo for inspiring Madrid to Copa Del Rey Victory
Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior were instrumental in helping Real Madrid clinch the Copa Del Rey ahead of their clash against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
“Last year they had a very dangerous striker, who was Gabriel Jesus, and now it’s Haaland, who has different characteristics. He has an important height and he has De Bruyne behind him, who can give him a long ball. It’s a dangerous team.”
Midfielder Luka Modric came on as a late substitute in the Copa del Rey final win over Osasuna after recovering from a hamstring injury and Ancelotti said he would be fit to play against City.
“He can play without any problem,” the Real boss said. “If he’s well, he’s going to play. So tomorrow he will play”.
On what he hoped to see from his side, he added: “We want to play a complete match. We want to get the best out of ourselves physically, motivationally and technically, bearing in mind that the decisive match will be the second leg. We want to take a small advantage.”
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12:30 - 09.05.2023
FKFPL Livid Kamau berates napping Rangers
The struggling Postal Corporation of Kenya outfit enjoyed a lion's share of ball possession and chances created but inexplicably lost to a poor KCB.
The return leg takes place at the Etihad on May, 17.
The winner will face Inter Milan or AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on June 10.
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20:43 - 08.05.2023
FKFPL Gor Mahia vice-chairman Wasuna highlights three key K'Ogalo objectives in Mashemeji Derby
Wasuna also urged fans to turn up in large numbers and support the club.
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