Carlo Ancelotti quotes Carlos Alcaraz in rallying cry to Real Madrid players ahead of Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal
Updated 15/04/2025 at 21:41 GMT+1
Real Madrid have it all to do in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal at the Bernabeu. But manager Carlo Ancelotti has quoted Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, calling on his team to play "with our heads, our hearts, and our b***s". Los Blancos are 3-0 down after a dramatic first leg at the Emirates, where Declan Rice scored two stunning free-kicks.
'We need head, heart and b***s' - Ancelotti channels Alcaraz ahead of Arsenal return leg
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Carlo Ancelotti has turned to tennis star Carlos Alcaraz for inspiration ahead of his side's UEFA Champions League second leg against Arsenal.
Los Blancos are 3-0 down from the first leg at the Emirates after Declan Rice scored two spectacular free-kicks.
And Ancelotti's defending champions will be tasked with producing a rousing comeback at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Real Madrid boss channelled four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz - who last weekend won the Monte-Carlo Masters - in his pre-match press conference.
"What we want to do is try to change our mindset and play a serious game," Ancelotti said. "With our heads, our hearts, and our b***s, as Alcaraz says."
Alcaraz, who won a "nervy" first-round match at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday, has the phrase tattooed on his left arm, and attributed it to his grandfather.
Ancelotti added: "Real Madrid have all the resources to turn this tie around. We have the quality, the commitment, the experience of many players, and we have the fans.
"The resources are there; we just have to bring out the best in each of us. In previous years, they didn't say we played spectacular football, which may be the truth. More than spectacular, we want to play effective football."
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Ancelotti on how Bernabeu 'magic' can inspire Madrid comeback against Arsenal
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Ancelotti has won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in his second spell as Real Madrid boss.
But with his side trailing Barcelona in Spain's top flight and facing a potential Champions League exit, the Italian is under increasing pressure.
"It is not [my first Champions League game], I hope it is not the last one because this competition is special for me, but I would be sad rather than worried [if we lost]," he said.
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'We can do this' - Bellingham on Arsenal fallout, Rice and Madrid's comeback chances
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ancelotti has also highlighted the challenge posed by Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, even if Real Madrid will now have the advantage of playing at a partisan Bernabeu.
"They play really well, of course," he exclusively told TNT Sports. "They are really well-organised and that’s what we would like to break tomorrow - this organisation.
"We are pretty sure what kind of game we are going to play. We are not sure about the result. But before a game you are never sure of the result.
"You have to control your performance and I think tomorrow night we are going to control our performance."
He added: "Here the expectation in the club for the Champions League is always high. I think we’ve done really well [in the past] and we want to do the same this year.
"There have been more difficulties, but in the difficulties this stadium is usually really helpful for us. There’s a little bit of magic. Everyone talks about the magic of the Bernabeu. The magic, of course, comes from the performance of the team.
"When the team is involved [in the game], the supporters are more involved and create a fantastic ambience. This is what we are going to expect tomorrow."
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