Abraham P. Romero Madrid

Pablo de la Calle

Madrid

Updated Thursday, March 7, 2024-00:34

  • Chronicle Madrid almost got burned in an agonizing draw against Leipzig, but went to the Champions League quarterfinals

The Bernabéu vault debuted in the Champions League to feed an atmosphere that seemed low intensity due to the favorable result in the first leg, at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.

The objective was to multiply the decibels to recreate the choreography of the great nights on a special day: the

122nd anniversary of Europe's dominating club

.

The welcome to the players' bus was thunderous, like on the days of the epic comebacks.

Everything was prepared for a party that turned out to be less lustrous than expected due to the uncomfortable visit of a Leipzig team, who

had no complexes in a setting designed to intimidate

.

The ghosts of Deportivo's Centenariazo and Ajax's exhibition in 2019 walked through the white coliseum on another March 6.

"I didn't know how to tell you...", Nacho tried to reflect in the mixed zone of Chamartín.

"We haven't been fine. We haven't been in good shape mentally or football-wise. We haven't known how to handle the result. Now let's forget about this bad night," commented the Madrid captain, who accepted the whistles from the Bernabéu, although he demanded a little more help in some cases. moments.

"Maximum demand. We would love for them to be with us a little more when we are not well, but this is Madrid and the Champions League."

Jude Bellingham

went to the meeting with anger because in the morning the Competition Committee sanctioned him with two games for contempt or inconsideration of Gil Manzano for the "

Its a fucking goal

" at Mestalla.

Real Madrid will resort to Appeal to reduce or annul the Englishman's punishment, who in principle will miss the matches against Celta and Osasuna.

"I didn't say anything offensive, I didn't say anything different from what my teammates said and I think sometimes because I'm new they want to set an example with me. I think both games are a bit ridiculous," the footballer declared after the game.

The versatile midfielder was once again the lighthouse of the offensive game of a team that presented a different physiognomy than usual, with a 4-3-3, with the Englishman and

Vinicius

at the top and with Valverde leaning to the right.

Bench for

Rodrygo

and

Brahim

.

In the first half, Madrid did not feel comfortable against an opponent who was very open on the wings after Ancelotti's surprising line-up, with five midfielders.

"We played poorly and we were not able to maintain the advantage. On a mental level we were not good, little tension, little intensity... It may be that I made a mistake in the lineup, but it was to add intensity and energy. But I didn't. we have done," said the coach, who admitted that "if I had to change those who have not played well, it may be that I had to change the coach as well."

After the restart, Ancelotti appealed to

Rodrygo

and the talismanic factor of the Brazilian striker in the Champions League.

Camavinga

was the one sacrificed.

The replacement barely altered the dynamic, with uncontrolled play by Madrid and constant pressure from the German team.

Once again Lunin's miraculous hands and whistles in the stands.

"The whistles are deserved, they have woken us up, it is necessary to have a demanding public," Ancelotti acknowledged.

The stress eased momentarily with Vinicuis' goal.

Release for Ancelotti who celebrated the goal and forgot about his tax problems.

"Today is not the day to talk about that, but I am calm, I have no problems.

My problem is that the team has not played well

," he replied to the media on the subject.

Yes, there were other classifications for fourth and other more pleasant birthdays.

"I think the team is mentally tired," confessed Ancelotti, who "

would have signed

" in August to be seven points ahead of the second in the League and qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals.