Real Madrid could be three goals down going into their second leg against Man City and still fancy themselves against this Pep Guardiola side, writes JACK GAUGHAN Not many have the gravitas required to pull into line Real Madrid’s front four, with their almost obnoxious self-belief and quality, but inside the dressing room at the weekend, Carlo Ancelotti put a few in their place.
Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo were told, in no uncertain terms, that they were not running enough during the Madrid derby, one Real were losing in a game that could prove critical in the La Liga title race.
They only boo if you’re good, of course, and the way in which his dancing feet hypnotised Manuel Akanji before striking the bar from a standing start – in similar fashion to that Ronaldinho moment at Stamford Bridge all those years ago – served to show that irrespective of the result City came away with at home, next week is going to be one, long examination.
Pep Guardiola's side have been thumped before at the Bernabeu and are fighting with one arm behind their back now that they are a goal down in the tie.
The old Galactico problem that blighted this grand old club for so many years, before they decided to get serious, and Ancelotti’s job now is to make sure Mbappe’s summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain doesn’t set them back to days of players over team.
