MADRID, Feb 19 — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Pep Guardiola is deliberately underestimating Manchester City’s chances of progressing to the Champions League last 16.
MADRID, Feb 19 — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Pep Guardiola is deliberately underestimating Manchester City’s chances of progressing to the Champions League last 16.
Madrid leads 3-2 ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, while City, currently fourth in the Premier League, faces a tough challenge. Guardiola had claimed his team had only a “one percent” chance of winning, a statement Ancelotti dismissed.
“He doesn’t truly believe that,” said Ancelotti. “I’ll ask him tomorrow if he really thinks he only has a one percent chance. We know they have a greater chance than that.”
Guardiola later admitted he had downplayed City’s prospects. “This time, I lied to you,” he said. “As the days pass, you get more excited. It’s not the best result, but we’ll fight to go through.”
Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger is fit to start, while City’s Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish have recovered in time for the match. Guardiola emphasized the need for an “almost perfect game” to advance.
Ancelotti also addressed recent refereeing controversies in La Liga, contrasting them with the Champions League’s higher officiating standards. Meanwhile, Guardiola urged for referees to be left in peace amid ongoing investigations. — AFP
WASHINGTON, July 1 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House next week for talks with President Donald Trump, as the U.S. intensifies efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, a U.S. official confirmed on Monday.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Public relations agency ShekhinahPR, in collaboration with football marketing and management consultancy ProEvents, has donated football gear used by Manchester United during their recent match against the Asean All-Stars at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil to Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Lemoi.
THE HAGUE, June 25 — U.S. President Donald Trump claimed today that missile strikes over the weekend caused severe damage to Iranian nuclear sites, although he admitted that the intelligence available was inconclusive.