Real Madrid will accept losing in the Champions League semi-finals. It was one of the most difficult games I've seen this season, as Manchester City didn't give Los Blancos any breathing space on the pitch, attacking from all angles, and we all know the Etihad Stadium is only for business. Pep Guardiola worked so hard for this moment, to eliminate one of the top teams in UCL and the globe, and he deserves a few thumbs throughout the time comfortably beating the visitors is not an average effort. They've advanced to the final, and I'm hoping they'll win this time.
Pep Guardiola and the Man City players deserve extraordinary appreciation for beating Real Madrid so extraordinary. Even Real Madrid seemed to struggle to get out of the pressure throughout the game.
But I really don't understand the tactics used by Carlo Ancelotti for Real Madrid in the second leg. I really regret Carlo Ancelotti's decision not to play Antonio Rudiger. Even though Ancelotti himself admitted in an interview that he considered that Antonio Rudiger's first leg contributed greatly in stopping Haaland's movement. And make Real Madrid's defense very sturdy. In the semi-final first leg, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba performed very well in holding off every attack built by Haaland and his friends. But I don't know the reason why Ancelotti made Rudiger sit on the bench. Ancelotti even played Militao to replace Rudiger. And as we can see Militao is not playing any better than Rudiger. In fact, I feel Militao played a little badly. this is one of the mistakes in the line-up played by Ancelotti at the back.
And Real Madrid's back line players were too busy guarding Haaland and have made B. Silva play more freely and managed to score goals for Man City very well.
Yes, Rudiger's suspension is a reason to blame Carlo Ancelotti. But you should know that whoever the manager is, it will be very difficult against the Manchester City team who have been able to play quite cleverly and great this season. Manchester really has shown like a circus that is so stunning. I don't really agree if you blame Ancelotti.
A team of Real Madrid's class does have quite a bit of experience on the European stage. But this season, most of the Los Blancos squad are still decorated with last season's squad, there is no refreshment in the squad and coupled with the aging of Kroos and Modric in vital lines, Don Carlo is confused in implementing the scheme.