‘I respect him a lot’: Ancelotti relishes Simeone rivalry in Champions League

As Real Madrid prepare to host Atlético Madrid in a city derby in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti said he is looking forward to another battle against his rival Diego Simeone.

Heading into their 27th clash, with the two managers having faced each other more often than any other rival in their careers, they are tied at nine wins each along with eight draws.

Despite Real’s Champions League dominance, having won all four of their previous meetings across the past 11 seasons, most notably the 2014 and 2016 finals, recent history has told a different story. Last year, Atlético handed Real their only two defeats of a near-perfect 2023-24 season in which they won a league and Champions League double.

Ancelotti’s team have won only one of their past seven Madrid derbies, a 5-3 extra-time victory in the 2024 Super Cup in Saudi Arabia over a year ago. Ancelotti and Simeone share a long acquaintance, considering both remember facing each other in Italy’s Serie A.

“My first memory of him is as a footballer with Lazio, when he scored against Juventus. I was a coach in a game that was for the league title. Lazio won and they took the championship, I think it was 2000,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday.

“Now, as a coach, I respect him a lot. He’s a great manager. He has done very well at Atlético, taken them to the highest level in Europe. I like the way he reads the games, how he gets the team on the pitch, the strategy, the commitment his team has defensively. I like all of these aspects a lot.”

Ancelotti said that Real will not fall into the trap of overconfidence from previous results as the holders push for a record-extending 16th European Cup and seventh title in 12 seasons. “It’s going to be a close tie that will to be decided in the second leg. The objective tomorrow is to play well and take an advantage,” Ancelotti said.

“The match will be even and competitive, as a Madrid derby always is. It’s a special match in terms of emotions and the pressure you feel ahead of a big rivalry game.”