Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his delight at his side’s passage to the semi-finals of the Champions League following their win over Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last night.
The reigning European champions sealed their passage to the last four of the prestigious competition after Javier Hernandez scored the only goal of the match in the 88th minute to win the tie 1-0 after the first leg had ended in a stalemate at the Vicente Calderon last week.
It was the first time in eight meetings this season between the two local rivals that Real Madrid got the better of Diego Simeone’s men, having lost four times and drawn the other three prior to last night’s clash.
Ancelotti insists that it was a key game in Real Madrid’s season as they attempt to become European champions for the second consecutive year.
“It was a key game in our season”, he was quoted as saying by UEFA.
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“Atletico are always a strong team but we did well. The first leg gave us the confidence that we could control this match and score.
“We have kept our dream of playing another final alive.”
The Italian further added that having navigated successfully through to the semi-finals his side’s focus remains on retaining the trophy they won in Lisbon last year.
“We are going to try to win everything. When we are firing, we are very dangerous.
“Every match is an exam for us. We passed this one well.”
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