Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid ‘has to believe’ and defend the decision to include all Fab Four

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid “has to believe”, but admitted that the return of the Champions League against Arsenal will be “very difficult”.

Madrid was fired last night in the second half at Emirates Two decades of free kicks and Mikel Merino’s strike putting artillery in a quarterfinal game.

The 15-plow European champions have gained a reputation in finding different ways of progress in the competition, but Ancelotti says this may be too far away.

He said, “We have to believe, believe, because many things happen in Santiago Bernabé.

“But this result will be very difficult to cancel, but you have to try. And we will try in every way. We have the opportunity to respond to a bad game, a bad result. Let’s see if we can do it.”

👔 @Mrancelotti: “It is very difficult, but more significant things happened in Bernabéu.”
📺 Journalists Conference ➡️ RM Play

– Real Madrid Cf 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadenid) 8 April 2025

Madrid canceled the brilliant rice

Madrid was quite comfortable at 0-0 approaching the lane for an hour, but Rice hit his first free kick before repeating the feat 12 minutes later. Spanish International Merino added a potentially crucial third with 15 minutes.

Ancelotti added: “Obviously it was a difficult defeat. We didn’t expect it. The truth was that the team was pretty good. In the first half it came to the turn, but after two goals, acknowledged with a piece set, the team fell a little mentally and physically. And it’s hard to finish the match this way.

“We didn’t have a reaction, something we usually have, but for the last 30 minutes it was really bad. You have to be self -critical. And from there, think about doing everything possible to try to recover.”

Declan Rice did that again 🤯

Another great free kick puts arsenal 2-0 on the Emirates#Uclonprome pic.twitter.com/xxezgrvfjq

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The best players have to play – Acelotti

Madrid entered a tie with a lot expected of his ‘Fab Front Four Four’ Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, but they made a small impression on the makeshift Arsenal.

Asked if playing all four compromises makeup on the side, Ancelotti said: “The composition is different from the previous years, but that is best. I always think that the best players have to play and not sit on the bench.

“It was the key here to organize ourselves as a compact block because we were unable to manage it.”