To continue their journey in the Champions League, Real Madrid must face either Manchester City or Celtic in the playoffs, and Carlo Ancelotti has clearly expressed his preference.
The Italian coach of Real Madrid stated that he would rather play against Celtic than Manchester City. “Manchester City or Celtic? Well, Man City has a better chance of winning the Champions League, so…” he suggested, implying that it would be wiser to avoid the Sky Blues for now.
Ancelotti’s Surprise Choice
Fully aware of Manchester City’s strength, Ancelotti seems to want to spare his team from such a tough encounter. Therefore, he would opt for Celtic instead.
This choice may be surprising, as Ancelotti has always maintained a calm and serene image under pressure. The same can be said for Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who said, “Manchester City? Fine. If you want to win the Champions League, you must face the best teams.”
Real Madrid’s Current Position
Despite a convincing 3-0 victory over Brest, Real Madrid remains stuck in 11th place, which puts them in the playoff spot. Thanks to a brilliant performance from Rodrygo Goes, who scored a brace, the Merengues secured the win, but it wasn’t enough to push them into the top 8.
Group Stage Setbacks
Early defeats in the group stage severely impacted Real Madrid’s position by the end of the phase. Brazilian Rodrygo was quick to point out this challenge: “We wanted to be in the top 8, but it wasn’t possible. We made things harder for ourselves. Now, we must focus on the playoffs. Facing City? It will always be difficult, but at this stage, no matter the opponent, it will be a challenge.”
