Ancelotti: Chelsea are not in a good moment and the rematch is an opportunity to turn it around. We have to be careful

Real Madrid travelled to London for the Champions League quarter-final rematch with Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti warned in a press conference that the Blues must definitely not underestimate the team ahead of the rematch.

The duel between Chelsea and Real Madrid had a clear favourite. Los Blancos are the defending Champions League champions, having easily knocked out Liverpool in the eighth round, while Chelsea, on the other hand, are struggling hugely and are only 11th in the Premier League.

It looked like that on the pitch too, where Real won 2-0 and had several more chances. The rematch at Stamford Bridge should be a formality according to many, but that is certainly not what Carlo Ancelotti thinks.

“Chelsea are not going through a good period and we have to play in the best possible way. They have an amazing opportunity to turn their situation around and we have to be wary of that and give it everything,” the Real Madrid coach said at a press conference.

The two teams already met in the Champions League quarter-finals last year, Real Madrid won the opening game at Stamford Bridge 3-1, but at home they were already 0-3 down and on the brink of elimination, but eventually took the game into extra time, where Benzema decided the game.

“I don’t think it will be an easy game. Anything can happen and the players know that. Last year’s first leg was a bit easier, but it got radically more complicated at the Bernabéu and we suffered a lot. This time the same thing can happen at Stamford Bridge,” says Ancelotti.

The Italian coach also spoke about the situation in the squad. Several other players like Tchouaméni, Ceballos, Asensio and Nacho are pushing their way into the starting line-up with their good performances, but the squad is not inflatable.

“It’s hard to say that I have my starting eleven. One day yes, then someone plays a great game and changes your perspective. This team has a lot of great players and to say I have a clear-cut 11 would be disrespectful to those who play less but still play great. I have more than eleven players who deserve to be in the starting XI,” says Ancelotti.

Source: Real Madrid, UEFA