Real Madrid always feel respected by every team in the UEFA Champions League, says coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Los Blancos beat holders Manchester City on penalties in the quarter-finals to level the last four games with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Manchester City dominated much of the second leg in Manchester, but it was Carlo Ancelotti’s side who got over the line after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
Fourteen-time European champions Madrid, who allowed Karim Benzema to leave for Saudi Arabia at the end of last season, were reluctant to get past Man City, but Ancelotti does not think his side will be undervalued in this year’s competition.
“Madrid are never underestimated in this competition because everyone knows what we can do,” he said.
“We feel respect from everyone.
City’s Bernardo Silva called Madrid a “strange” team, leaving Carlo Ancelotti embarrassed.
“I don’t know. We’re not weird,” he added.
“I think the weight of the shirt in this competition weighs like history, but I have nothing to answer to Bernardo Silva.
“He’s a fantastic player. [City] had a good time last year and we had a good time this year. That’s football.”
When informed that Madrid would go into this tie as favourites, Ancelotti replied: “That doesn’t worry me. We are confident that we will face a team that didn’t have a great Bundesliga season but knocked out Arsenal.”
“It comes from knocking out a very strong team in Europe. History matters a lot in the UEFA Champions League and that works in our favor.”
Carlo Ancelotti has faced Thomas Tuchel nine times in his career, winning three, losing four and drawing twice, and the Italian expects another tough test.
He said: “In terms of quality, they are strong in transition, can play in different ways and are very dangerous. We are two who don’t have a very clear identity. We can both play in different ways.”
Tuesday’s first leg also marks a return to Munich for Ancelotti, who coached Bayern between 2016 and 2017.
“It’s a very beautiful, fantastic city, although unfortunately German never entered my head,” Ancelotti said.
“My son did, he learned very well. Munich is a great city to live in.”
