There’s no doubt that Carlo Ancelotti respects Celtic as a football club and in particular admires the style of football that the club is currently playing under Ange Postecoglou. And despite his glitteringly successful career in football management, the legendary Italian manager is conscious of the fact among all his achievements he has never been able to win at Celtic Park.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has never won at Celtic Park! 😱
Can he change the tide tomorrow? #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/6rHs2sp2Fm
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) September 5, 2022
And that’s something that Carlo Ancelotti would like to put right tomorrow night.
The last time that Ancelotti brought the Champions of Europe to Glasgow was in 2007 when Gordon Strachan was in the home dugout managing Celtic and the Italians left empty-handed after a 2-1 Celtic victory. Add to that two matches that ended goalless means that tomorrow it will be a fourth attempt at winning in Paradise for Ancelotti.
“Yes. It’s true, it’s not been good stadium for me and my teams in the past,” the Real Madrid manager admitted. “I don’t have a clear memory of being here. We played Celtic twice in the group stages and once in the last 16 (2004 0-0, 2007 last 16 0-0, 2007 group stage 2-1) but we were able to win in Milan after extra-time. What can I say? It is a really difficult stadium but it is a fantastic atmosphere,” he admitted.
“I love that my teams can play in this atmosphere. It’s obviously going to be a difficult game. They are a lot like us in that they have a good dynamic at the moment, they play with a lot of intensity.
“But we are prepared, we are ready for it and hopefully we will get a victory in our first game. We are looking forward to it. I know that Celtic is not going to change their style, their attitude on the pitch.
🔊 LISTEN: “It is a really difficult stadium but a fantastic atmosphere.”
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has never won at Celtic Park but says he hopes to change that in the Champions League tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/DgTZZ3Xfgi
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) September 5, 2022
“They want to play attacking football and this is absolute the normal at their house. We are not worried to defend because if we defend well then I think fine. We defended very well in the past and I think one of the key points of our victory last season was to defend well at key points sometimes. As a team we have to be able to defend well but also attack well. That is what we would like to do.”
Ancelotti is looking at rotating his squad in the Group stages but doesn’t that will mean playing a weakended team in Glasgow. “It depends what you mean by a ‘less common player’. There is going to be rotation and it depends what you mean by a ‘less common player.”
Luka Modric looks like starting and that means a chance for Callum McGregor to pit his wits against his old adverary from the Scotland match against Croatia in the Euros.
Ancelotti is full of admiration for the veteran midfielder ahead of his 37th birthday in a few days time.“There is no explanation for him. He is a fantastic player with fantastic quality and he has a great attitude. He had big injuries during his career but those three qualities have made him, at 37 years of age, one of the best midfielders, still, that we have in Europe. He is going to turn 37, have a big party and I hope that I am invited!”
Ancelotti isn’t too bothered that others are favourites for the Champions League this season, as that suits him just fine. “No, I’m not surprised. If anything, it’s a good sign. We don’t mind being the underdogs. But, if anything, we have improved.
“We are going to try and compete all the way to the final once again. This is not an easy group at all. Celtic first and foremost are a strong side. We also have to respect Leipzig and Shakhtar.
“There can also be surprises in the group. You think about last year against Sheriff (2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu) in the group stage. Anything can happen. Going forward, we will respect this group and see what happens.”
🛬 ¡Ya estamos en Glasgow! 🏴#UCL pic.twitter.com/w5rU01ZPbI
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 5, 2022
⚒⌛ El entreno empieza en 30 minutos…
📍 Celtic Park | #UCL pic.twitter.com/dTJVRuomnY— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 5, 2022
🇪🇺💚 Celtic Park tour guide Martin Gorman talks us through the memorabilia cabinet set up at the stadium to welcome @realmadriden to Paradise. #UCL | #CelticRealMadrid🍀 pic.twitter.com/k2fBG2gKh1
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 5, 2022
