MANCHESTER, England — Ahead of the Champions League playoff against Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti defended Real Madrid’s choice to skip last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. The absence was notable after Vinicius Junior lost the prestigious individual accolade to City’s midfielder Rodri.
Ancelotti expressed his conviction that the decision was justified. “I don’t think it was the wrong decision,” he stated on Monday. “We did not want to participate because we believed that Vinicius was the true winner of the Ballon d’Or. This does not undermine our respect for Rodri, who is a remarkable player. However, I felt that Rodrigo should have won the award the previous year.”
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, mentioned previously that there were no hard feelings regarding Madrid’s absence from the event, and defender Ruben Dias echoed this sentiment. “Honestly, I didn’t spend any time contemplating if it was disrespectful,” Dias noted. “I was genuinely happy for Rodri. I was there and celebrated with him that night.”
Guardiola further clarified the situation by saying, “Absolutely not,” to the question of any lingering animosity, and emphasized the need to move forward from the incident. “Both Vinicius and Rodri had fantastic years,” he added, comparing their achievements to the legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. “The topic is closed.”
On the pitch, the rivalry between Manchester City and Real Madrid has intensified in recent seasons. They are facing each other in the Champions League for the fourth consecutive year, with the victors from the last three encounters going on to claim the trophy. The stakes are particularly high this time, as the losing team will face an unusual early exit, given that both clubs have reached two finals in the past four years. Madrid is the reigning champion, while City claimed their first title in 2023.
Their upcoming showdown comes after both teams struggled with the competition’s revamped format, necessitating a playoff to secure their spots in the round of 16. Real Madrid arrives in Manchester boasting a formidable attacking lineup that includes Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Endrick, all under Ancelotti’s management.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenge his team faces in attempting to contain Madrid’s attacking prowess. “Realistically, I think it’s impossible to neutralize those four players for any extended period — whether it’s 90 minutes, 180 minutes, or even 200 minutes including extra time. They are exceptional talents,” he stated.
