Carlo Ancelotti greets Pep Guardiola after the Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City. AFP
Carlo Ancelotti greets Pep Guardiola after the Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City. AFP
Carlo Ancelotti greets Pep Guardiola after the Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City. AFP
Carlo Ancelotti greets Pep Guardiola after the Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City. AFP

Sport

Carlo Ancelotti concedes Real Madrid were outplayed by Man City in Champions League

Spanish club's title defence comes to an abrupt end with a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the semi-finals

The National

May 18, 2023

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Carlo Ancelotti conceded his Real Madrid team were outplayed by Manchester City and deserved to lose their Champions League semi-final tie.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Real's Bernabeu, City ran out emphatic 4-0 winners at the Etihad on Wednesday night, following a brace from Bernardo Silva, an own goal by Eder Militao, and a late Julian Alvarez strike, for a 5-1 aggregate result.

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City, who were beaten by Real at the same stage last season, avenged that heartbreaking defeat with a brilliant performance in front of their jubilant fans, with only Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preventing them inflicting even more damage.

"They played better than us and deserved to win," Ancelotti told reporters. "They put a lot of pressure at the beginning, it worked out well for them because they made it very difficult for us to get the ball in play and they went two goals ahead.

"From then on, it was difficult to get back into the game. We tried in the second half ... but it didn't work out."

Ancelotti admitted it was a painful night but said it was too soon to analyse what had gone wrong.

"Evaluating today, at this moment, makes no sense," he said. "It is a defeat that hurts, it hurts a lot. But it can happen.

"We reached the semi-finals of the Champions League against a strong opponent, they played better and left us without a final. We have to learn and for the next season, to be better."

Man City v Real Madrid player ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. He was a spectator in the first half but came up with a big save when Alaba hit a swerving freekick just after the restart. Denied Real's hopes of a late comeback with a double save to deny Benzema and Cabellos in the 83rd minute. EPA
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. He was a spectator in the first half but came up with a big save when Alaba hit a swerving freekick just after the restart. Denied Real's hopes of a late comeback with a double save to deny Benzema and Cabellos in the 83rd minute. EPA
Kyle Walker - 8. Had the upper hand in the highly anticipated battle with Vinicius on the right flank. Showed excellent pace to get back and make a remarkable recovery tackle with through on goal on the half hour. EPA
Kyle Walker - 8. Had the upper hand in the highly anticipated battle with Vinicius on the right flank. Showed excellent pace to get back and make a remarkable recovery tackle with through on goal on the half hour. EPA
Ruben Dias - 7. Hardly tested in defence and did his part in helping to keep the away side’s attack quiet. Picked up the first yellow card when he stopped Rodrygo from running through on goal after the restart. AP
Ruben Dias - 7. Hardly tested in defence and did his part in helping to keep the away side’s attack quiet. Picked up the first yellow card when he stopped Rodrygo from running through on goal after the restart. AP
Manuel Akanji - 8. His header back across the face of goal was almost turned in by Haaland in the 22nd minute. Almost made it three for City with a shot that Alaba blocked on the stroke of half-time. Had a hand in the third as his glancing header got deflected into the net by Militao. Reuters
Manuel Akanji - 8. His header back across the face of goal was almost turned in by Haaland in the 22nd minute. Almost made it three for City with a shot that Alaba blocked on the stroke of half-time. Had a hand in the third as his glancing header got deflected into the net by Militao. Reuters
John Stones - 7. Dovetailed nicely alongside Rodri at the base of the City midfield and helped mop up loose balls. Had a pop at goal from over 25 yards out in the 11th minute, but his effort failed to trouble Courtois. Reuters
John Stones - 7. Dovetailed nicely alongside Rodri at the base of the City midfield and helped mop up loose balls. Had a pop at goal from over 25 yards out in the 11th minute, but his effort failed to trouble Courtois. Reuters
Rodri - 8. Superb in the middle of the field and helped the home side control proceedings. His cross-turned-shot flashed across the face of the post in the seventh minute. Reuters
Rodri - 8. Superb in the middle of the field and helped the home side control proceedings. His cross-turned-shot flashed across the face of the post in the seventh minute. Reuters
Bernardo Silva - 9. Opened the scoring with a well-taken left-footed effort from close range in the 23rd minute. Doubled City's lead with a header in the 37th minute. Superb. Reuters
Bernardo Silva - 9. Opened the scoring with a well-taken left-footed effort from close range in the 23rd minute. Doubled City's lead with a header in the 37th minute. Superb. Reuters
Kevin De Bruyne - 8. Central to everything positive the home side did in the final third. Created the first goal with a simple pass into the pass of Bernardo Silva that caught the Real defenders off guard. EPA
Kevin De Bruyne - 8. Central to everything positive the home side did in the final third. Created the first goal with a simple pass into the pass of Bernardo Silva that caught the Real defenders off guard. EPA
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. Not as effective as he was at the weekend, when he scored two goals, but still played well. His saved effort was deflected into the path of Silva to head home. Reuters
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. Not as effective as he was at the weekend, when he scored two goals, but still played well. His saved effort was deflected into the path of Silva to head home. Reuters
Jack Grealish - 7. Not as effective as Silva on the opposite flank, but played his part by keeping Carvajal pinned back and unable to join the attack. Had Carvajal on toast all game. EPA
Jack Grealish - 7. Not as effective as Silva on the opposite flank, but played his part by keeping Carvajal pinned back and unable to join the attack. Had Carvajal on toast all game. EPA
Erling Haaland - 7. Forced Courtois into two good saves. On one occasion, did well to dribble past the goalkeeper but failed to find a blue shirt in the penalty area with his cutback. EPA
Erling Haaland - 7. Forced Courtois into two good saves. On one occasion, did well to dribble past the goalkeeper but failed to find a blue shirt in the penalty area with his cutback. EPA
SUBS: Riyad Mahrez (Gundogan 79') - N/A. Involved in the build-up that led to the home side’s fourth goal. Getty
SUBS: Riyad Mahrez (Gundogan 79') - N/A. Involved in the build-up that led to the home side’s fourth goal. Getty
Phil Foden (De Bruyne 84') - 7. Made his mark on the march by assisting Alvarez to make it four for City. Getty
Phil Foden (De Bruyne 84') - 7. Made his mark on the march by assisting Alvarez to make it four for City. Getty
Julian Alvarez (Haaland 89') - 7. Rounded up the win with a well-taken effort to make it four in added time. PA
Julian Alvarez (Haaland 89') - 7. Rounded up the win with a well-taken effort to make it four in added time. PA
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 7. Made a save from point-blank range to deny Haaland in the 13th minute. Provided a breathtaking save to stop Haaland’s header in the soon after. Denied Haaland again when one on one in the 72nd minute. PA
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 7. Made a save from point-blank range to deny Haaland in the 13th minute. Provided a breathtaking save to stop Haaland’s header in the soon after. Denied Haaland again when one on one in the 72nd minute. PA
Dani Carvajal - 4. Had a hard time dealing with the threat of Grealish all game and could have offered more in attack. Reuters
Dani Carvajal - 4. Had a hard time dealing with the threat of Grealish all game and could have offered more in attack. Reuters
Eder Militao - 4. Intercepted a cross intended for Haaland in the fourth minute. Unfortunate to turn the ball into his net off an Akanji header in the 76th minute. Getty
Eder Militao - 4. Intercepted a cross intended for Haaland in the fourth minute. Unfortunate to turn the ball into his net off an Akanji header in the 76th minute. Getty
David Alaba - 5. Made a goalline clearance to stop Haaland’s effort in the 13th minute. Almost gave the away side a lifeline with a freekick that forced Ederson into a great save in the second half. Reuters
David Alaba - 5. Made a goalline clearance to stop Haaland’s effort in the 13th minute. Almost gave the away side a lifeline with a freekick that forced Ederson into a great save in the second half. Reuters
Eduardo Camavinga - 3. A terrible match for Camavinga at left-back. He found it tough to deal with the nimble-footed Silva and got caught out of position for both of his goals in the first half. AP
Eduardo Camavinga - 3. A terrible match for Camavinga at left-back. He found it tough to deal with the nimble-footed Silva and got caught out of position for both of his goals in the first half. AP
Federico Valverde - 4. The least effective of Madrid‘s midfielders in the game. He struggled to get involved in the play. Getty
Federico Valverde - 4. The least effective of Madrid‘s midfielders in the game. He struggled to get involved in the play. Getty
Toni Kroos - 5. Part of a dysfunctional midfield. Hit the crossbar with a typical Kroos shot from long-range in the 34th minute. AP
Toni Kroos - 5. Part of a dysfunctional midfield. Hit the crossbar with a typical Kroos shot from long-range in the 34th minute. AP
Luka Modric - 6. Not the best of days for Modric at the Etihad. Still looked the most likely to make something happen among the midfield trio. Getty
Luka Modric - 6. Not the best of days for Modric at the Etihad. Still looked the most likely to make something happen among the midfield trio. Getty
Rodrygo - 5. A toothless performance from Rodrygo on the right flank. He looked likelier to create something when he played more central in the second half. EPA
Rodrygo - 5. A toothless performance from Rodrygo on the right flank. He looked likelier to create something when he played more central in the second half. EPA
Karim Benzema - 3. An ineffective performance from Benzema on a night when Real looked to the captain for inspiration. Had his first shot on target in the 83rd minute. EPA
Karim Benzema - 3. An ineffective performance from Benzema on a night when Real looked to the captain for inspiration. Had his first shot on target in the 83rd minute. EPA
Vinicius Junior - 5. Found the going tough against an inspired Walker at right back. Had an air-shot when he had the chance to side-foot Rodrygo’s cutback in the 60th minute. Getty
Vinicius Junior - 5. Found the going tough against an inspired Walker at right back. Had an air-shot when he had the chance to side-foot Rodrygo’s cutback in the 60th minute. Getty
SUBS: Antonio Rudiger (Modric 63') - 5. Came on and helped improve the away side’s defence in the second half. Reuters
SUBS: Antonio Rudiger (Modric 63') - 5. Came on and helped improve the away side’s defence in the second half. Reuters
Marco Asensio (Kroos 71') - N/A. Brought on with the hope of helping to inspire another historic comeback, Asensio failed to make the desired impact. AP
Marco Asensio (Kroos 71') - N/A. Brought on with the hope of helping to inspire another historic comeback, Asensio failed to make the desired impact. AP
Aurelian Tchouameni (Camavinga 80') - N/A. Came on late and struggled to get involved. EPA
Aurelian Tchouameni (Camavinga 80') - N/A. Came on late and struggled to get involved. EPA
Dani Cabellos (Rodrygo 80') - N/A. Saw his attempt saved by Ederson in the 83rd minute. Getty
Dani Cabellos (Rodrygo 80') - N/A. Saw his attempt saved by Ederson in the 83rd minute. Getty
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 80') - N/A. Could do little to stop the home side in his time on the pitch. EPA
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 80') - N/A. Could do little to stop the home side in his time on the pitch. EPA

A year after winning a La Liga and Champions League double, and becoming the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues, Ancelotti was facing up to finishing the campaign with just a Spanish Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup to show for their efforts.

He did, however, set another record on Wednesday, becoming the coach with the most European Cup games (191), surpassing the mark set by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

But with their rivals Barcelona crowned La Liga champions last weekend with four-games to spare, Ancelotti was left searching for a silver lining.

"I think it was a good season. We have to show up in the few games we have ahead of us," Ancelotti said.

"I think that reaching a Champions League semi-final is a success because only four teams make it to the last four."

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