Real Madrid tactic discloses which Man City player Carlo Ancelotti is most scared of
Carlo Ancelotti played down the significance of Erling Haaland in the semi-final game, advising Real Madrid to prevent him from receiving passes and scoring goals, a strategy that many managers have attempted but failed to execute this season.
Ancelotti may have taken this approach because he identified Ilkay Gundogan as a more influential player on the Manchester City team, after Gundogan’s two-goal performance against Leeds over the weekend.
In the game, Gundogan played in a slightly more advanced position, tasked with turning with the ball and keeping City on attack.
As a result, Gundogan was targeted by Germany teammates Antonio Rudiger and Toni Kroos, who both made rough tackles that left Gundogan needing medical attention. This drew the ire of Pep Guardiola.
The increasing speculation surrounding Ilkay Gundogan’s future, particularly due to his outstanding performances highlighting his significance to Manchester City, makes it noteworthy that Real Madrid made a significant effort to reduce his impact during the game.
This could be an indication that it would be wise for Manchester City to hold onto a player who is causing concern for a manager of Carlo Ancelotti’s caliber.
Real Madrid tactic discloses which Man City player Carlo Ancelotti is most scared of
