Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says Los Blancos face a huge task against PSG on Wednesday because of their attacking problems.
The 10-time Champions League winners head to Paris to take on another of Ancelotti’s old clubs in the first of their back-to-back clashes with the Ligue 1 champions.
But Real are without a number of first team stars including Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, who both picked up knocks on international duty. They are also without the services of James Rodriguez and Luka Modric, two of the side’s most creative influences.
Speaking ahead of the game, Ancelotti told Madrid-based daily AS that Los Blancos will find it tough.
“I think PSG will deploy a game of possession and Madrid will focus more on the idea of counter-attacking. They are very dangerous on the counter-attack but they have several significant injuries. Madrid are a strong team defensively, they don’t concede many goals. But they have some problems in attack,” the Italian said.
He also spoke about the qualities of Angel di Maria, once of Real but now of PSG.
“Di Maria is a fast player who can play in the centre or on the wing. At Madrid he was used on the right or left of the attack,” Ancelotti recalled.
He went on: “Then when Sami Khedira was injured I put him in the centre as an organiser. It was a new position but he did very well. He’s a great team player.”
