MADRID, March 14 – Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to show signs of overconfidence in Wednesday night’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Liverpool.
Madrid’s 5-2 first-leg win at Anfield three weeks ago made them favorites to advance to the quarter-finals, but the coach does not want his players to relax, according to Xinhua.
“We don’t need to do any calculations; we have to do everything we can to go into the game the same way we did in the first leg,” he told a pre-match news conference.
“We didn’t think about what was going to happen, we just played with as much intensity and passion as possible to win the game,” the coach added.
Ancelotti admitted that his side conceded two goals early in the first leg and that his players would not “think we have the advantage” to kick off.
“I think it will be an open game because Liverpool will come here with the intention of turning things around. We have to be good in both areas: defensively and offensively,” he insisted.
The boss also spoke about Belgium international Eden Hazard, who has been sidelined in recent months due to poor form and injuries.
“Even though he didn’t play much, he respected me. I respected him too. He didn’t play because there was too much competition,” Ancelotti commented, emphasizing that Vinicius Jr.’s position on the pitch was the same as Hazard’s. I am the same.
–IANS
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