Celtic coach ahead of Real: No point in thinking about the result, we are playing against a top team. We are both in good shape, Ancelotti adds

The Champions League rounds finally get underway again on Tuesday night. Last season, Real Madrid dominated the competition for the 14th time in its history. The defence begins in Scotland, where they will take on Celtic. And coach Ange Postecoglou has great respect for the champions.

They say defending the trophy is much harder than winning it the first time. And in the Champions League, this was especially true, as no one had won the trophy twice in a row until 2017. But then Real Madrid came along and blew that rule to smithereens, managing to defend the millionaire competition twice and dominating the 2016, 2017 and 2018 editions.

So what’s the reason why Los Blancos couldn’t defend the trophy again? At the start of the season, Carlo Ancelotti’s team is looking great, not only has it won all four opening rounds of La Liga, making it the only team still in the Top 5 leagues, it is also putting in great performances and entertaining the fans.

Now he’s starting his European journey again, with Scottish side Celtic the first to face him.

“There is no point in thinking about winning, losing or any other result. The main thing is that we have to perform because we are playing against a top team with fantastic players and a brilliant coach. We want to do our best and compete with them,” said Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou at a press conference.

But Celtic is also doing great. They have not lost any points in the new season either, taking full points from six games with a perfect 25:1 record. In addition, Celtic thrashed the hated Rangers 4-0 in the city derby at the weekend.

“It will be a tough game. Like us, they are in good form and play with great intensity. We are ready to enter the group well. It’s not an easy group. Celtic are playing great and we have respect for them, as well as the other two opponents (Leipzig, Shakhtar),” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“We all remember what happened last year with Sheriff – there are always surprises in the group stage and I think this will be a tough and combative group,” the Italian coach recalled the shock victory of the minnows from Moldova at the Santiago Bernabéu last year.

Source: UEFA