Carlo Ancelotti has expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s ability to reach the UEFA Champions League final this season, despite facing significant challenges in the competition’s newly implemented league phase format.
The Italian tactician believes Los Blancos possess the quality, experience, and determination required to navigate their way to European football’s most prestigious stage.
However, Real Madrid’s path to glory has been far from smooth so far.
The team has suffered three defeats in the current league phase, including a disappointing 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The defeat highlighted the club’s ongoing struggle to adapt to the new format, which replaces the traditional group stage with a single league table featuring all participating teams.
As a result, Real Madrid currently finds itself languishing in 24th place, an uncharacteristic position for the 14-time Champions League winners.
Against Liverpool, Madrid looked uncharacteristically disjointed, with defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge in attack costing them dearly. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez sealed the victory for the hosts, leaving Ancelotti’s side searching for answers.
The Italian, however, remains optimistic, emphasizing the club’s storied history of bouncing back from adversity.“Real Madrid is a club that thrives under pressure,” Ancelotti stated during the post-match press conference.
“We have faced tough situations before and come out stronger.
This season is no different. I am confident that we have the talent and resilience to reach the final and compete for the trophy.
”The revamped league phase has added an extra layer of complexity to the Champions League, with all 36 teams competing in an eight-match mini-league.
The top eight teams qualify directly for the Round of 16, while the next 16 teams battle it out in a playoff round. Ancelotti acknowledges that the format requires a consistent level of performance, which his team has struggled to achieve so far.
Despite the setbacks, key players like Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior remain central to Madrid’s ambitions.
Ancelotti will need to inspire his squad to deliver improved performances in their remaining fixtures to climb the standings and secure qualification for the knockout stages.
The manager’s faith in his team reflects a broader confidence in Real Madrid’s identity as perennial contenders in Europe.
With several games still to play, Madridistas around the world will hope their team can rediscover its winning formula and keep their dream of a 15th Champions League title alive.
