MY ACCOUNT
Carlo Ancelotti is keen for his Real Madrid side to meet AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Los Blancos face Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the competition, while Milan are building up for an all-Italian affair against Napoli.
Madrid will be favourites against Chelsea due to the poor season being endured by the Premier League side.
For Milan, the situation is different as Napoli have blown away their rivals in Serie A this season, but they will have the backing of Ancelotti.
Asked what he said to Paolo Maldini in a recent call with the former defender, Ancelotti told Rai Radio 1: “It was above all a wish for Milan, of which I am a fan.
“In reality, Milan-Napoli will be a very balanced and very uncertain match.
“Would it be nice to meet in Istanbul? For Madrid, yes, I think also for Milan, but everyone wants to get to Istanbul.”
In his pre-match press conference ahead of the first leg of the quarter-final tie against Chelsea, Ancelotti again outlined a desire to meet Maldini in the final – particularly with the host city not holding fond memories for the pair, who lost in Istanbul against Liverpool in the 2005 final.
“Paolo and Istanbul is not a pretty memory especially in 2005,” Ancelotti added. “I have all the love in the world for Maldini, he has been my captain and my partner and if we can see each other on my birthday [the day of the final] it will be very good”.
For Milan, the tie against Napoli is a chance to build upon their recent thrashing of the runaway Serie A leaders in a game that is certain to be an emotional one.
Because of this, Ancelotti explained that motivational speeches are not required ahead of the game and pre-match discussions should be purely tactical.
“In these types of games the players are going to feel the pressure, they are going to be very motivated, so you don’t have to make motivational speeches,” he explained.
“The speech that is going to be made is linked to the strategy of the game, trying to give clear and simple indications to the players, so that they feel involved: it is also a way to take a little off the pressure that these games inevitably put on you.”
