Penalty Controversies, Simeone Comparisons, and Seasonal Struggles: Ancelotti’s Bold Insights!

Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media ahead of the crucial second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Atletico Madrid, expressing his team's ambition to reach the quarter-finals. He remarked, "We want to advance. Penalty shootouts? It's challenging to prepare for them, as you can't replicate the atmosphere of a stadium. The mental aspect is even more crucial than the technical one." The Champions League remains a significant competition for Real Madrid: "This year is complex, but we have confidence." When discussing team selection, Ancelotti stated, "I have more than 11 players at my disposal; even a single substitution can sway the match." This isn't Ancelotti's first encounter with Atletico Madrid; he previously faced them in a Champions League final in 2014. Yet, he acknowledges that each year presents unique challenges, requiring unwavering focus. "Matches against Atletico are always fierce and decided by small details; tomorrow will be no different," he continued. In his typical calm manner, the Real Madrid manager downplayed the stakes of the match: "Is this a season-defining game? It’s merely a match that allows us to keep dreaming in this competition. This year is particularly difficult, but we believe we can make it to the final." Touching on his tactical relationship with rival coach Diego Simeone, Ancelotti said, "I believe we share a similar philosophy of football." He remained tight-lipped regarding his starting lineup, asserting, "I think I have more than eleven players who can take the field in this match, and those on the bench will also play a role. A well-executed substitution can change the game. As for Mbappé and Vinicius? They seem to get along quite well." He spoke highly of Simeone, describing him as "a great coach" with a similar footballing approach. When contemplating the possibility of the match being decided on penalties, Ancelotti added, "We can practice them in training, but it’s hard to capture the same atmosphere of a live match. We’re observing who is successful at converting them and who looks at the goalkeeper during the run-up. I've had extremely technical players who were hesitant to take a penalty; I once won a Champions League final thanks to penalty-takers like Nesta and Serginho. Right now, our focus is on preparing to win the match, not merely on the prospect of penalties." For further details, you can watch the full interview [here](https://sport.sky.it/calcio/champions-league/2025/03/11/atletico-madrid-real-madrid-conferenza-ancelotti-video).