Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed part of his line up for Wednesday's do-or-die ... [+]
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed part of his line up for Wednesday's do-or-die Champions League quarterfinal clash with Manchester City and said that Vinicius being whistled by Mallorca fans is a sign of "success" following a 1-0 win over the Copa del Rey runners-up.
Aurelien Tchouameni will play no part in the upcoming fixture at the Etihad after picking up a yellow at the Bernabeu during the first leg.
Thanks to his strike from long range early in the second half, however, Madrid will maintain an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga going into El Clasico next weekend.
Ancelotti said that the Frenchman played "very well" in his "preferred position".
"He stands out a lot defensively, because he has a lot of presence. The presence of a tall pivot was important in that sense, because they float a lot of balls to Muriqi. [Antonio] Rudiger and Nacho have also helped," Ancelotti stated.
The latter mentioned pair will probably have to be Ancelotti's central defensive duo at City given Tchouameni's suspension and that Eder Militao isn't yet fit enough to start an encounter of such intensity after having only just made his comeback from an ACL rupture.
Ancelotti confirmed that Rudiger will play the second leg, with a failure to pick him for the semifinal equivalent last term, after the German kept Erling Haaland quiet, proving to be Madrid's undoing as they lost 4-0 at the Etihad and 5-1 on aggregate.
"I'll write this one down," Ancelotti said with a laugh. "Rudiger is going to play the second leg."
Asked how his team is going into the UCL last eight decider, Ancelotti answered: "I think we're in good shape."
"I haven't given a break [to some players] because of a physical aspect. Everyone was fine. Only Rodrygo, who had a knock. I didn't want what happened with Almeria to happen.
"Everyone who has played less has delivered. Joselu, Brahim... Brahim missed an incredible chance, but he played a spectacular game. [Luka] Modric was very well too.
"We're not going to win the game physically, but because of attitude. City are physically very strong," Ancelotti explained.
Asked if he was expecting his winger Vinicius Jr. to be whistled in one of the grounds where he has been worst received, Ancelotti quipped that Son Moix "is known to be a special environment for him".
"But when he came on he was dangerous, he confronted them, he was fresh... Whistles are normal. The whistles are success," Ancelotti insisted.
