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Ancelotti tells PSG the secret to beating Real Madrid

PSG VS REALMARDRID FIRST LEG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Italian coach has hailed the Spanish club and says Laurent Blanc's men must do more with the ball at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday if they are to emerge victorious 

Carlo Ancelotti believes the "secret" to Paris Saint-Germain defeating Real Madrid on Tuesday is to turn their impressive possession into goalscoring chances.

PSG had 60 per cent of the ball against Rafa Benitez's men a fortnight ago but drew 0-0 at Parc des Princes, and they are set for the return visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Champions League matchday four.
Ancelotti coached PSG prior to leaving for Real Madrid in 2013 and he insists that his replacement, Laurent Blanc, must go for the win against the side he departed this summer.

"Anything can happen, but it is more difficult to win in Madrid," he told Goal. "PSG found it hard in the first game to make the most of all the possession that they had.
"Madrid defended well and in the end were closer to winning the match than PSG. The secret for Blanc and his team is to make more of the good control of the ball they have, which I think is the problem they are having this season.

“When you are playing for Madrid, you can’t play for a draw. All the time you have to play for the three points. Both Madrid and PSG will qualify, but in the match this week Madrid will try to win as they always do."

Angel Di Maria has failed to impress since his €63 million move to PSG in August, but Ancelotti does not think his former star will flop like he did at Manchester United.

"It’s just a matter of time for Di Maria, he needs to adapt to a new system," the Italian continued. "PSG like to move the ball around, while he prefers to get forward quickly, so I think it's just a matter of time adapting to a new system."

Meanwhile, Madrid central midfielder Luka Modric has been excellent since returning from injury and Ancelotti claims the Croatian was one of his top targets during his PSG stint between 2011 and 2013.

“I wanted to sign Modric when I was with PSG," the former AC Milan and Juventus boss said. "I remember we had contact with him, I spoke with him too, but then Real Madrid came in and at that time he was more attracted to Real.”

Ancelotti's ousting as Real Madrid head coach at the end of last season was not a popular decision among fans or players, and the Italian says he was touched by all the support he received.

"I expected tweets of thanks from Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas, I always got on very well with them," he explained. "I have a fantastic memory of all of them.

"Maybe Madrid were the team that gave me the most as professionals. After we won the Champions League it helped build our relationship."I never had any problems. The choices I made were all accepted with great professionalism. For example, deciding who to start between Casillas and Diego Lopez in my first season was not easy.

"When Casillas was benched the first year and Keylor Navas in the second year they were very, very respectful of my choices. They were difficult choices, especially Casillas, even if the fact that he played in the Champions League in 2013-14 will have helped.

"I remember when I said to Diego Lopez: 'Casillas is going to play in the Champions League.' He accepted my decision without any problems. It’s difficult when you have two very good goalkeepers and one always plays and the other is on the bench. Both played well that season and I thought it was the right decision to make."

SOURCE: GOAL.COM