Carlo Ancelotti has done it again in the press conference before this Tuesday's Manchester City-Real Madrid. Florentino Pérez didn't find it amusing, and he knows it.
In his appearance before the media ahead of Manchester City-Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti said:
"City-Real Madrid Is the Classic of the Champions"
-"City-Real Madrid seems like a Classic of this competition because we are facing each other many times. It will be entertaining and balanced, like the previous ones."
-"It's very difficult to predict what will happen because it will depend a lot on attitude, quality, confidence, and personality. These are matches of such a high level that you have to bring out your best version in all aspects."
-"Vinícius's season is going very well, considering he has suffered two injuries... and they haven't allowed him to have continuity."
-"There are already 17 goals, many assists, and he has been very decisive in many matches. All this, despite the injuries not allowing him to have continuity."
"Vinícius Is Close to Being 100%"
-"I don't see Vinícius anxious, but well. Even without being at his 100%, but he's very close. In the second half of the classic, he made the difference."
-"City is one of the best in Europe, it has the best coach in this competition at the moment. It's the most complicated match we could have."
-"The team that advances will have many chances to go very far in the competition. As happened in recent years."
-"With Vallejo, nothing is happening. He's training well. But his contract is ending, and we prefer to give more opportunities to the young players."
-"I'm surprised by City's situation, of course. They had a difficult period, with injuries and defeats, but now, from what I've seen, they are a very competitive team, as always."
"If We're Here, It's Our Fault"
-"I don't think the Ballon d'Or boycott was a bad decision. We didn't want to participate because we believed Vinícius should win the Ballon d'Or. And that doesn't mean we don't respect Rodrigo, but we believed he should have won the previous year, not this one."
-"City is always a headache. But the reality is this: when City has eliminated us, they have been champions; and vice versa."
-"If we're here, it's not UEFA's fault, but ours. But it's surprising because this match could be a final, semifinal, or quarterfinal. But, I repeat: it's only our fault."
What Florentino Pérez Didn't Like
More than correct statements from the Italian coach. What wasn't liked is his fondness for praising Pep Guardiola. A coach who doesn't hide his anti-Madridism and who during Jose Mourinho's era turned the classics into a nightmare.
Ancelotti is free to express whatever he wants. But the club understands that he should always align with the entity's guidelines, which don't include valuing Pep Guardiola as the best coach.
Similarly, Ancelotti knows that the Madridist fans don't share his opinion about the Catalan coach.
On the other hand, his reference to the club's Ballon d'Or boycott was appreciated. There, he moved in the same direction as the club.
The Madridist coach said about Guardiola:
"I think he's a coach who has contributed a lot to soccer: possession, attacking play, pressing, and building from the back. He's an innovator in soccer, and I have a lot of respect for him.
-"He's one of the best if not the best. Every time we face each other, it's a nightmare to prepare the matches because he always has ideas that make you think."
-"City is probably the toughest opponent of all. And we'll play against the toughest coach."