In the high-stakes world of Champions League football, one club’s misfortune can be another’s golden ticket. And right now, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is envisioning Manchester City’s potential early exit from the competition as a dream scenario for his Blancos squad.
Speaking candidly after Madrid’s dominant 5-1 win over RB Salzburg, which virtually guaranteed them a spot in the knockout phase, Ancelotti didn’t mince words when asked about the implications of City’s shocking 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
“Yes, Manchester City’s elimination would be good news. Because for me, they are still one of the candidates to win the Champions League again.”
– Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid Manager
Madrid’s Rocky Road vs City’s Freefall
It’s no secret that Real Madrid and Manchester City have developed quite the Champions League rivalry in recent years. The two juggernauts have clashed in the knockout rounds each of the last three seasons, with Madrid ultimately prevailing en route to claiming the trophy in both 2022 and 2024.
But while Madrid has navigated a relatively bumpy group stage campaign—suffering defeats to the likes of Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool—they’ve still managed to accrue enough points to control their own destiny. City, on the other hand, finds themselves in the unfamiliar territory of the Champions League cellar, staring down the barrel of a humiliating early exit.
By the Numbers: Madrid Trending Up, City Crashing Down
- Real Madrid: 12 points from 7 matches, 16th place, playoff-bound
- Manchester City: 7 points from 7 matches, 25th place, playoff hopes fading fast
The contrasting trajectories paint a clear picture: Real Madrid, even on their worst day, still find ways to grind out the necessary results. Manchester City, for all their domestic dominance, can’t seem to translate that killer instinct to the Champions League cauldron.
Ancelotti Coy on Madrid’s Prospects
Ever the wily tactician, Ancelotti wasn’t about to get ahead of himself when pressed on Madrid’s own chances of making another deep Champions League run. With one group match still to play, the Italian mastermind knows there are no guarantees in this competition.
“You never know. Only one thing is clear. We have to win our last game, and at this club, that’s not new.”
– Carlo Ancelotti on Madrid’s approach
Still, one gets the sense that Ancelotti and Madrid are quietly licking their chops at the prospect of a Champions League bracket sans Manchester City. After all, toppling the English giants in heart-stopping fashion has become something of a Madrid specialty in recent campaigns.
The Guardiola Conundrum
Of course, writing off Pep Guardiola and City would be foolish at this stage. The former Barcelona boss has made a career of pulling rabbits out of his hat when the chips are down. And with a talent-laden squad at his disposal, City certainly have the firepower to pull off a great escape.
But there’s no denying that the pressure is squarely on City’s shoulders as they prepare for a do-or-die group stage finale. Fail to secure a result, and Guardiola will face the ignominy of presiding over the most shocking Champions League collapse in recent memory.
A Tantalizing Twist of Fate?
From a footballing perspective, the prospect of a Champions League tournament without Manchester City is undeniably intriguing. It would represent a seismic shift in the balance of power, potentially opening the door for new contenders to emerge.
But for Ancelotti and Real Madrid, it would be more than just a footballing footnote. It would be a tantalizing twist of fate, a chance to further cement their status as the kings of Europe without their chief tormentor standing in the way.
In the pressure-cooker that is the Champions League, sometimes it’s the off-field developments—a key injury, a shock elimination—that can tip the scales in a team’s favor. And right now, Carlo Ancelotti is daring to dream that Manchester City’s misery might just be Real Madrid’s ticket to glory.
