Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid 'have the quality to take risks' against Manchester City

Spanish side are 4-3 down going in to Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg in Spain

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring the first goal of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. City won the match 4-3 in an incredible contest. PA

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the first goal after just two minutes. AFP

Kevin de Bruyne heads Manchester City in front. Getty

Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal after 11 minutes. Getty

Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates with Kevin de Bruyne. AFP

Gabriel Jesus celebrates his goal. AFP

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores the second goal. PA

Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring the second goal. AFP

Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema pulls a goal back for the Spanish giants. AP

Karim Benzema celebrates his goal. AFP

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and City's Pep Guardiola greet each other before kick-off. Getty

Phil Foden celebrates scoring City's third goal. PA

Foden makes it 3-1 to City. Action Images

Manchester City's Ederson throws a flare off the pitch after Phil Foden scored their third goal. Action Images

Vinicius Junior scores Real's second goal to make it 3-2. Getty

Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring. PA

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal. Action Images

City's Bernardo Silva scores their fourth goal. Action Images

Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring the fourth goal. PA

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores their third goal with a penalty. PA

Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real's third goal from the penalty spot, to make it 4-3 after the first leg. Getty

Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola shake hands after the match. EPA

Carlo Ancelotti has said his Real Madrid side “have the quality to take risks” has they look to overturn a one-goal deficit against Manchester City in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg.

The Spanish side lost a thrilling first leg 4-3 in Manchester as they look to secure their first final spot since 2018 and have shown plenty of fight to come from behind in both their previous knockout games against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

And Real are flying high this week after clinching a 35th La Liga title at the weekend following their 4-0 win over Espanyol, sparking scenes of jubilation in the Spanish capital as the players rode an open-top bus to greet thousands of fans at the city's Plaza Cibeles.

But now attentions turn to the second leg at home to City and Ancelotti insists they will need more than just character to defeat Pep Guardiola's side.

“If we sit deep, we won't concede 99 shots and if we get into their box they are going have a go at us but sometimes you have to take risks,” Ancelotti said on Tuesday.

“In these games we have scored a lot – four against PSG, five against Chelsea, three against City – so we have the quality to take risks.

“The players are looking good. We know it is going to be difficult, but we feel confident. We do have a little bit of a disadvantage, but that is something we will address tomorrow.

“We will see a great game between two great teams with great players, but they are also different teams. Whenever you make it to a final or win a final, it’s not something you can do out of heart and motivation alone. That’s not enough. If we win, it will be out of collective commitment and individual qualities.”

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Veteran midfielder Luka Modric is confident the team is ready to continue their mission to win a 14th European Cup and will not be affected by Saturday's celebrations.

“We really wanted to go to Cibeles because it had been a long time since we could celebrate a title with our fans,” the Croatian said. “We enjoyed it but as soon as it ended, we were focused on tomorrow's game.

“It was a beautiful day and that's it, the season is not over. We are very confident that we can come back, because we know that in the first match we did not play our best game and we still scored three goals.

“We have the quality and character and the history of this club, having the most Champions League titles, also makes a big difference.

“We have to play this game with a little faith and a lot of aggression and energy we have to show everyone that we are Real Madrid that we are the best team in the world. That is what we have to bring tomorrow.”

Ancelotti confirmed that defender David Alaba misses the game through injury and will be replaced by Nacho. But Casemiro is fit again, handing Madrid a significant boost in midfield.

“Casemiro will help us,” Ancelotti said. “His return reinforces us defensively. I think we are going to see an improvement from the first leg.”

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