Carlo Ancelotti believes Real Madrid can overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League – and that boss Zinedine Zidane can handle the pressure at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Goals by Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold shocked the football world by giving the Bundesliga side a commanding lead in the quarter-final tie, just days after Madrid had beaten Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou.
Zidane was assistant coach to Ancelotti when Madrid won their 10th Champions League title, La Decima, in the 2013-14 season – and the Italian is convinced that his former deputy has what it takes to reach the semis.
“[Zidane] has also experienced these kinds of situations as a player and he knows how pressure needs to be handled in these moments,” Ancelotti told Goal.
“I think Real Madrid have enough quality to do it. They have top players who know how to handle these situations even if the result of the first game wasn’t a positive result and it won’t be easy in any case.
“Wolfsburg counter-attacked and defended very well in the first leg. It is a very uncertain game but I think Madrid will go through because it is crucial for Los Blancos to reach the semi-finals.”
Ancelotti has handled pressure situations at Madrid before – Real came from behind to equalise in the dying seconds of the 2014 final against Atletico Madrid, going on to win 4-1 after extra time.
The former Chelsea, PSG, Milan and Juventus boss explained how he motivates his players to overcome adversity.
“You need to shut out the bad feelings as soon as possible after a defeat. You need to think positive and Real Madrid can use the [4-0 win over Eibar] to recover. The past has happened and you need to keep thinking about the immediate future.”
Short of a spectacular collapse from Liga leaders Barcelona, the Champions League represents Zidane’s only chance to win any silverware this season.
“Anything can happen in football,” the Italian said. “Real Madrid going out of the Champions League to Wolfsburg – that can happen. In sport it is always possible for a single defeat to have a huge impact.
“Three days earlier we were saying the opposite. Madrid were great against Barcelona after a long time without winning the Clasico. Three days later, we can’t say it has all gone wrong.
“Nothing is totally certain in football and there is no illusion here. You have to remain balanced when you’re challenging at the highest level but Madrid has enough time to make this season a complete success.”
