Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes their first leg quarter final clash against Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday is only the beginning part of the tie, with a second leg in view.
The Italian looked unfazed by outside talk of the inconsistency of the European champions this season, rather calling for focus on upcoming crucial games.
“We can’t think about criticism when we have a game every three days,” Ancelotti said in the press conference.
“What we do is analyse each game and prepare for the next one. Tomorrow’s game is very important but it’s only the first 90 minutes of the tie. It is not decisive because there are another 90 minutes to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.”
Following a superb campaign in which they won the Champions League and LaLiga titles with only two losses in all competitions over the entire season, expectations were at a high following the arrival of France captain Kylian Mbappe.
However, Real have struggled to be as inpressive as they were last season, losing five LaLiga games and a few in other competitions, including two heavy losses to bitter rivals Barcelona who they face in the Copa del Rey final this month.
Off the back of a disappointing 2-1 home loss against Valencia on Saturday, Real are second in the LaLiga standings on 63 points, four behind Barca with eight games left.
Ancelotti, however, is confident after eliminating Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs and local rivals Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
“If I didn’t believe we were going to win titles this season I would have quit already, I would consider a holiday,” Ancelotti added.
“We are here to fight for all the titles until the end no matter what. If it doesn’t work out, we have to think about next season but that is not the case yet.
“The experience we have in the Champions League is very important. The knowledge means that you are not afraid of these matches, with this pressure.”
