Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is not concerned about who his side is drawn against in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Los Blancos topped their group after winning five of their six matches, and set a new club record of 20 goals – to stand alongside Barcelona (2011) and Manchester United (1998) as the the joint highest scorers in the group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo set a new goalscoring record though, with his nine goals in the six matches taking him above the likes of Ruud Van Nistlerooy, Hernan Crespo, and Filippo Inzaghi, who had all scored eight in previous years. PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic also scored eight in the group stage this year.
Los Blancos, who are chasing their Decima (10th) European Cup crown, could face any one of seven teams in the next stage. These include the likes of Manchester City, who they faced at the group stage last year, and Arsenal, the only English club to win at the Santiago Bernabeu (in 2006), and where Mesut Ozil now plays his football. Other teams they could face Bayern Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Schalke, Zenit, or AC Milan.
But speaking to journalists, Italian boss Ancelotti said he is unconcerned about the opponents and that Madrid can beat anyone on their day.
“It isn’t that important because the round of 16 is always difficult and any team can make it tough for you. There are teams with different levels of quality: some more dangerous than others, but there are no easy matches,” he stated.
