After Real Madrid defeated Brest 3-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Champions League playoffs, where they will be seeded, manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that the team hopes to avoid Manchester City in the following round.
In February, the holders will play a two-leg playoff match against either Manchester City or Celtic, with the second leg being played at home.
“We don’t like to play against City, but if we have to, we’ll do it like on other occasions,” Ancelotti told a press conference when asked whether he preferred to be drawn against the Cityzens or the Scots.
“City have more chances to win the Champions League.”
He also told Movistar: “It’s a draw and what comes, comes. To win the Champions League you have to win every game.”
The draw will be held on Friday in Nyon in Switzerland.
“If we want to win this competition we have to beat the best teams,” Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also said.
The Spaniards’ dismal league phase start—three losses in the first five games—meant they missed direct qualification to the round of 16.
“We should have woken up earlier in this competition. Now it’s like this,” Ancelotti said.
Rodrygo, who scored a double, acknowledged his team had fallen short.
“Top eight was our objective but we didn’t do well in some games.
“Now we have to keep improving,” he told Movistar after scoring a double.
