Ancelotti Confident in Squad’s Mental Strength as Los Blancos Aim to Defend First-Leg Lead
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has acknowledged the immense pressure his team will face as they prepare for a tense Champions League last-16 second-leg derby against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Holding a narrow 2-1 lead from the first leg, the record 15-time European champions will travel to Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium, where the stakes could not be higher.
“The motivation and the pressure will be very high,” Ancelotti said during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “We’re doing well, motivated like always in the Champions League. It’s a hard game, and we know it. We have the confidence to continue in this competition, which is a very special one.”
The Italian tactician, who has won the Champions League five times as a coach, emphasized that the match will likely be decided by fine margins. “It will be an even game, decided by small details,” he said. “That’s how facing Atletico has always been, and it will be the same tomorrow.”
Ancelotti also addressed the possibility of the tie being decided by a penalty shootout, highlighting the importance of mental strength over technical ability. “I’ve had players who shoot penalties very well but didn’t have the right feeling going into a shootout,” he explained. “The mental aspect is more important than the technical side. I’ve won Champions Leagues with defenders who scored penalties.”
The Real Madrid boss added that he would not fault any player who declines to take a penalty, stressing the need for confidence in such high-pressure moments. “It’s not bad if someone says they don’t want to take one—you have to take the responsibility when you’re feeling right,” he said.
Real Madrid’s history in the Champions League against Atletico is a source of confidence for the team. The two sides have met five times in the competition, with Los Blancos emerging victorious on each occasion, including dramatic wins in the 2014 and 2016 finals. However, Atletico’s resilience was on display last season when they overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Inter Milan on penalties in the last 16.
One player under the spotlight is Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappe, who endured a quiet first leg and faced criticism for recent penalty misses against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao. However, teammate Aurelien Tchouameni defended the French superstar, saying, “Kylian wants to score in, and win, every game. It’s wild to hear people say he’s had difficult days because he didn’t score in a couple of games. If he scores tomorrow, everyone will say he’s an incredible player. He doesn’t need advice from anyone—he’s happy, he’s scored a lot of goals, and he will score a lot more.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his team to maintain their fighting spirit as they aim to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Gunners, who thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg, host the Dutch side at the Emirates on Wednesday. Despite trailing Liverpool by 15 points in the Premier League title race, Arteta remains focused on achieving success in Europe.
“We are going to carry on fighting to win every game,” Arteta said. “There are demands we put on ourselves in every competition. We are very much conscious that the demands for this football club are to reach the highest level and to win football matches.”
Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, could face the winner of the Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid tie in the next round. With six different scorers in their first-leg rout of PSV, the Gunners will be confident of progressing, even without injured stars Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
As the Champions League drama unfolds, all eyes will be on Madrid, where two fierce rivals will battle for a place in the quarter-finals. For Real Madrid, the mission is clear: defend their lead, embrace the pressure, and take one step closer to European glory.
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