Carlo Ancelotti is not sure whether to see the glass half-full or half-empty after Real Madrid’s 4-3 defeat to Manchester City. ‘Karim Benzema is the best player in the world right now.’
It was a positively extraordinary game of football at the Etihad, as Manchester City raced into a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes thanks to Kevin de Bruyne’s header and Gabriel Jesus.
Karim Benzema got one back with his first chance, then Vinicius with a splendid solo effort responded to Phil Foden.
Bernardo Silva blasted into the near top corner for 4-2, but Benzema converted a penalty with a cheeky Panenka chip after Laporte’s handling offence.
It was extraordinary guts from the France international, seeing as he’d missed two penalties in his last game against Osasuna.
The 4-3 result means the semi-final is wide open going into the second leg at the Bernabeu on May 4.
“It could’ve been worse, seeing how things were going, but it depends how you look at things,” shrugged Ancelotti on Canale 5.
“It was a great game, all fans of football watched a beautiful spectacle with lots of goals, lots of quality and lots of mistakes too.
“Looking at the glass half-empty, we started really badly, but then had the strength to react, score three goals and keep qualification wide open. Our stadium will push us forward.”
It is not the first time Real Madrid have had a sluggish start in the Champions League this season and had to react.
“It’s difficult to say why we start so badly, but then it’s difficult to explain why we end games so strong as well. We had prepared better defending than this, we struggled with passes between the lines and some individual duels, but then we did better.”
Benzema is the first player to score at least 40 goals for Real Madrid in a single season since Cristiano Ronaldo and his performances in the Champions League are making him a Ballon d’Or candidate.
“I don’t know if he will win it or not, but Benzema is certainly the best player in the world right now. There is nobody else with his quality and efficiency.”