Ancelotti Calls for 'Head, Heart, and Guts' Against Arsenal

Head, heart, and guts. That's what Carlo Ancelotti demands from his players to achieve another miracle against Arsenal and secure Real Madrid's place in the Champions League semi-finals. Ahead of a crucial match for both his future and that of his team, the Reggiolo coach invoked the mantra of a distinguished Madridista like Carlos Alcaraz to set the stage for a comeback that, over time, has shifted from being nearly impossible to feasible, considering both the distant and recent history of the Whites in their favourite competition and the faith that permeates the dressing room of the fifteen-time European champions.

"We need a match at our highest level to try to change a very complicated tie. Tomorrow we will try to change this mindset. We will aim to play a serious game, with head, heart, and guts, as Alcaraz says," stated a coach who was convinced that Real Madrid "has all the resources to change this tie." "We have the quality, the commitment, the experience, and the fans. We must bring out the best in each of us," affirmed the Italian in a press conference where he called for "effective football" rather than "spectacular football" and kept his cards close regarding the lineup and strategy.

"What I want to give them is clarity in the match strategy. We've thought about it a lot, we're going to try something in training, and I want the player to enter the field with very clear ideas because if a player has clarity, they can perform better individually," Ancelotti indicated, advocating for an "intense match, applying more pressure and trying to have more control than in the first leg."

"No magic because magic doesn't exist," expressed the Real Madrid coach, who was confident that his squad would not lack attitude. "The motivation is there, and I want the player to be calm and determined to try everything. The only thing we are not certain of is achieving the result we want, but I am sure we will bring out the best in us," he argued in an intervention where he emphasized the importance of having the support of a dedicated fan base.

"The Bernabéu has always helped us a lot, and it will help us a lot. It's quite normal for an opponent coming to play at the Bernabéu. The field is always the same, the colour of the grass is the same. But it's an atmosphere that pushes," said Carletto before assessing Arsenal's virtues. "It's a very well-organized team. It's not the most experienced, but it has a very clear idea both defensively and offensively. They are very focused on what they have to do. And they are more focused on that than on the atmosphere," explained the Reggiolo native, who called for "energy" to face the "difficult" moments.

What does Ancelotti need more from his players on Wednesday, to run or to make a difference? he was asked. "We need a bit of everything. A combination of the quality we have and also collective attitude. None of these things can fail," responded the Real Madrid manager, who approaches the hours leading up to what could be another magical night with the calmness that experience brings. "It's not the first match of this level for me, hopefully, it won't be the last," he emphasized.

To forge the comeback, Kylian Mbappé's performance is deemed vital, the Real Madrid flagbearer who arrives at the event in debt after his expulsion on Sunday at Mendizorroza. "He's hurt, disappointed by what happened. Yesterday he trained very well, very motivated. We need him, not only do we have to defend, but we also have to score goals. More than ever, we need his goals tomorrow," said the Bondy star, a strategist who does not consider an early goal essential to achieve the objective his team has set. "I don't think it's definitive. Of course, scoring early is important for the match. But the most important thing is to have good control of the match and try to do our best from the start. When you have good control of the match, you can score at any time," he defended.