Wednesday 6 May 2015 05:57, UK
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insists his side must defend better if they are to have any chance of victory in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Juventus.
Real travel to Turin on the back of a vital 3-2 victory over Sevilla which keeps their La Liga challenge alive but attention now turns to the defence of their European crown.
And after conceding two goals at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium and another two against Celta Vigo, Ancelotti, who spent two years as Juventus manager from 1999 to 2001, wants his team to tighten up at the back against the Serie A champions.
“When I say that we can draw the two games, it doesn't mean that we are going to defend,” the Italian told his pre-match press conference.
“We are going to prepare for the game with attacking football in mind, but we also have to defend better than we have done lately.
“I have my starting 11 but I am not announcing it now. We are not playing with three central defenders. We played like that for 10 minutes against Celta and five against Sevilla.
“We will play with four defenders and Ramos may be in midfield.”
Juventus claimed their fourth successive Serie A title at the weekend and are eyeing their first Champions League final in 12 years.
And Ancelotti, whose side are bidding to become the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, is dreaming of another final but is expecting a tough challenge Juventus Stadium.
"I believe that the semi-finals will be close,” he added. “It has been a few years since they reached this stage of the competition but they won the Italian league last Saturday and go into the game full of confidence.
“They are a very strong side, with a lot of experience and high-quality players. Winning here is not so easy. Having said that we want to reach the dream we have after winning La Decima and that means playing in the final again.
“The important thing is to try and play and well as possible showing all of our quality. We are having a good spell. The team is confident and all of the players are doing well. They are going to try and do everything as well as possible".
Champions League highlights: Juventus v Real Madrid (Tuesday, 11pm, Sky Sports 5)
