Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has downplayed the unbeaten record Los Blancos have had this season with the presence of Aurelien Tchouameni.
Los Blancos have not lost any game the Franco-Cameroonian midfielder has started this season, winning 24 of them and drawing five.
Tchouameni’s presence has seen Madrid lead the La Liga standings and sent them through to the Champions League semi-finals where they face Bayern Munich in the first leg on Tuesday night.
Ancelotti joked that Madrid reached the semi-finals without Tchouameni as he was suspended for the quarter-final second leg tie against Manchester City and used that to stress on the importance of other players.
“That’s true, he’s not lost a game yet, but we could say we’re here because he didn’t play against City,” Ancelotti said.
“Some players are hugely important and he will play. Where? I’m not sure.”
Ancelotti also reacted to comments by Man City’s Bernardo Silva that Madrid were a ‘weird team’.
“I don’t know. We’re not weird, we’re a team whose colours mean an awful lot in this competition,” the Italian said.
“History counts for a lot in this tournament. I have nothing to say to Bernardo Silva, he’s a wonderful player. They were celebrating last year and this year it was us. That’s football.”
👊 IT'S SEMI-FINAL TIME 👊
🆚 @FCBayernEN
⏱️ 21:00 CEST
🏟️ Allianz Arena#UCL pic.twitter.com/BgduJVCn9y— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 30, 2024
Real Madrid were Champions League winners two years ago when they defeated Liverpool in Paris, and will be gunning for a record-extending 15th European title this time.
