Bayern Munich will host Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. While this prestigious matchup is enticing, the Bavarian club wants to be very cautious of the Merengues.
It’s one of the most legendary fixtures in European football between two historical giants of the sport. On one side, Real Madrid with its 14 Champions League trophies. On the other, Bayern Munich with its 6 European Cup titles. The royal White House against the terrifying Bavarian giant. All the ingredients will be there on Tuesday night, on the pitch of the Allianz Arena in Munich, for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Ahead of this clash, Thomas Tuchel and Joshua Kimmich held a press conference to address multiple questions from Spanish and German journalists. At a time when several internal conflicts are raging within Bayern, a consensus seems to emerge: the Merengues give the Rekordmeister cold sweats. “Two great clubs meet. It’s hard to say where the key to the match lies. We know that Real has a lot of experience and has won many matches.
Maybe they haven’t always been the best team, but they have taken the lead because they believed in their strength. They can be dangerous,” Joshua Kimmich first pointed out. This encounter is crucial for both teams. Bayern’s season hinges on this competition after a bitter failure in the Bundesliga (Bayer Leverkusen already champions) and a resounding elimination in the Cup against the modest club Sarrebruck (German third division) in the second round. Real Madrid is seeking a possible double by winning La Liga and a fifteenth Champions League title in its history.
Carlo Ancelotti is intimidating in Bavaria! Accustomed to success wherever he coaches, Carlo Ancelotti’s qualities and successes need no introduction. Thomas Tuchel expects a fierce battle against the man who has won the most matches in the history of the Champions League: “Carlo Ancelotti is a legend. He is very humble, extraordinary, and cannot be valued enough. You play against Real, against the myth of football. We will prepare as needed, in our meeting today. We will try to prepare the team as best as possible.
There are clear processes. It’s a mix of a diamond in midfield with two sixes or sometimes two tens. It’s very flexible, very sophisticated, and completely automated. It’s Carlo Ancelotti’s signature,” analyzed Tuchel. The German coach hopes to find solutions against the tactical methods of the Italian legend who has great adaptability.
The last confrontation between Ancelotti and Tuchel dates back to 2022, when the German was coaching Chelsea: “Carlo Ancelotti radiates such fatherhood with his charisma and manners. That is one of his great strengths. It is important that everyone follows their own path. It is even more important that we stay with ourselves. We want to offer simple solutions. It is necessary to find a mix of discipline and freedom.
We also have experience – not just me. It will be a good mix with tension.” The Blues had indeed suffered an impressive comeback in the return leg in the quarter-finals of the competition. Furthermore, Kimmich also didn’t mince his words about Ancelotti: “He has always been very successful with Real Madrid. He succeeds wherever he goes. I didn’t play much in the first season under his orders. I would have loved to win the Champions League with him.”
Also questioned on this topic, Joshua Kimmich also praised his former coach’s method before analyzing Real Madrid’s character form: “Some see it as a normal match, especially because it’s a semi-final. Against Real Madrid, it’s even more special because Real is a huge club. Anyone who has anything to do with football will see Real against Bayern.
Two years ago, they won the Champions League, they were often behind before turning things around. You can’t always be lucky. They have confidence in their strength and know they can always score until the end. They have the quality to keep coming back and be able to beat any opponent.” The answer will be tomorrow night for this clash, but Carlo Ancelotti seems to haunt the nights in Bavaria.
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