Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players the tie with Borussia Dortmund isn’t over yet, and they’ll need to be at their best in Germany next week to qualify for the semi-final.
Goals from Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo gave Los Blancos a convincing 3-0 first-leg lead, but the Italian manager told the press after the match that Dortmund are still very much in the two-legged affair. He added though that he was delighted by the display at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I’m happy with the result, the match and the team’s attitude. It wasn’t an easy match, we started it well, in the second half we reduced the tempo a little. Dortmund had a good attitude, above all on the counter. It is a very dangerous team. The second leg won’t be easy,” he said.
Speaking about next week’s return match, Ancelotti stated: “We have to be alert and play like we did in this match. If we play like today we’ll reach the semi-finals. Touch all the wood in the world, I don’t like talking about the semis yet. They are setting a trap for the second leg and we have to be prudent and avoid it.”
The boss also played down concerns over Ronaldo’s fitness issues. The Portugal star scored his 14th goal of the Champions League campaign, equaling Leo Messi’s record, but was removed with 10 minutes to go due to the tendinitis he is suffering in his knee.
Ancelotti told journalists there is nothing to be concerned about. “It’s a slight knee problem and I’m not worried about it. If the niggle, which at the moment is not a worry, continues we can rest him, but the player is relaxed. I took him off 10 minutes before the end and there is no reason to worry,” he commented.
