Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid ‘have to believe’ and defends decision to include all of the Fab Four

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid “have to believe” but admitted a Champions League comeback against Arsenal would be “very difficult”.

Madrid were blown away in the second half at the Emirates last night with two Declan Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino strike putting the Gunners in the driving seat in their quarter-final tie.

The 15-time European champions have gained a reputation for finding different ways to progress in the competition but Ancelotti says this may be a bridge too far.

He said: “We have to believe, trust, because many things happen in the Santiago Bernabéu.

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

@MrAncelotti: “It’s very tough, but stranger things have happened at the Bernabéu.”
Press conference RM Play

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) April 8, 2025

Madrid undone by brilliant Rice

Madrid were quite comfortable at 0-0 approaching the hour mark but Rice whipped in his first free-kick before repeating the feat 12 minutes later. Spain international Merino added a potentially crucial third with 15 minutes to go.

Ancelotti added: “It was a hard defeat, obviously. We didn’t expect this. The truth is that, for an hour, the team was quite good. In the first half there was order, but after the two goals, conceded with a set piece, the team fell a little mentally and physically. And it’s hard to finish the game this way. 

“We have not had a reaction, something we usually have, but the last 30 minutes were very bad. You have to be self-critical. And from there, think about doing everything possible to try to recover.”

DECLAN RICE HAS DONE IT AGAIN

Another excellent free kick puts Arsenal up 2-0 at the Emirates#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/xXezgRvfJq

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 8, 2025

The best players have to play – Ancelotti

Madrid went into the tie with a lot expected from their ‘fab front four’ of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham but they made little impression on a makeshift Arsenal back four.

Asked if playing all four compromises the make-up of the side, Ancelotti said: “The lineup is different from previous years, but it’s the best. I always think that the best players have to play and don’t sit on the bench. 

“The key here was to organise ourselves to be a compact block because we haven’t been able to manage that.”