Carlo Ancelotti does not believe that teams from other leagues struggle to compete against Premier League giants
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished talk of the English Premier League being the most superior league in Europe even as Los Blancos prepare for their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Chelsea.
Ancelotti believes Premier League dominance is overstated
The Italian gaffer who won the Premier League title and FA Cup in 2010 with Chelsea answered questions about England’s top flight being the dominant league in Europe, stating that he believed the league’s financial might did not stop teams from other leagues from competing with English sides in Europe.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s LaLiga fixture against Elche, Ancelotti was asked whether he felt it was unfair that Manchester City had been labelled favourites for the UCL, despite Real Madrid being defending Champions and having one foot in the semifinals of this year’s competition after a comfortable 2-0 first leg lead against Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
The Italian manager replied, “I’m not bothered, because the truth is that English football has teams that compete very well. It doesn’t surprise me that the English are favourites, like Manchester City are now.
“However I think even if there is a little difference, other regions showing they can compete. Spanish football took two teams to the semifinals last year, this year Italy has three this year.”
Ancelotti believes teams from other countries can compete with Premier League’s elites
The four-time Champions League-winning manager also pointed out that despite the English believing theirs is the most superior league in the continent due to their financial might, they have struggled to compete with teams who have less economic might when they play in European competition.
He said, “European football is much more competitive than people say. The English think they have the strongest league and the most spectacular league in the world, but the truth is when they come to Europe, they compete with teams with less money, but they continue to compete, such as Spain and Italy.”
Ancelotti knows about competing against English clubs after beating three teams from the Premier League on the way to winning the 2021/22 UCL title with Real Madrid.
His side defeated Chelsea in the quarter finals-finals, Manchester City in the semi-finals, and Liverpool in the final to clinch the title in remarkable fashion.
This season, Real Madrid have already defeated Liverpool in the Round of 16, and are halfway through knocking out Chelsea in the quarterfinal, with a potential tie against Manchester City awaiting them in the semifinal.
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