Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Bayern Munich’s proud history in the Champions League “counts for a lot” as the two sides prepare to meet in the last four of the competition.
14-time winners Madrid are the most successful team in Champions League history, while AC Milan (7) are the only other side to have won the competition more times than Bayern (6).
Speaking at his press conference on Monday, Ancelotti — who was sacked as Bayern manager in 2017 after 15 months in charge — praised his former side after they eliminated a “very strong” Arsenal in the previous round.
“We have a lot of respect for Bayern, who haven’t had a good Bundesliga but did spectacularly against Arsenal, and that’s what we look at,” said Ancelotti.
“Arsenal are a very strong team in Europe and Bayern played two spectacular games. We have to take into account the quality of the team and the history, which is similar to ours and that in this tournament weighs a lot.”
Real Madrid and Bayern with at this stage of the competition 10 years ago.
Ancelotti, then in his first spell as Real Madrid manager, oversaw a 4-0 second-leg win at the Allianz Arena to book their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2002.
“It remains a good memory, but tomorrow is another story, different,” Ancelotti said when asked for his recollection of that game. “It’s the first leg, not the return leg. We’re playing against an opponent that has tools, quality and very strong individuals.”
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