'I respect him..' - Carlo Ancelotti on facing Diego Simeone in UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti stated that he is eager to face his opponent Diego Simeone again as Real Madrid gets ready to meet Atletico Madrid in a city rivalry in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match on Tuesday. With nine victories and eight draws between them going into their 27th meeting, the two managers have faced one another more than any other competitor in their careers.

Recent history has revealed a different picture, despite Real's supremacy in the UEFA Champions League, having won all four of their prior games over the previous 11 seasons, including the 2014 and 2016 finals. Last year, Atletico Madrid gave Real Madrid their only two losses during an almost flawless 2023–24 campaign that saw them win both the league and the Champions League. 

Given that they are now managers, Ancelotti is extremely proud of Simeone's accomplishments at Atletico. “Now, as a coach, I respect him a lot. He’s a great manager. He has done very well at Atletico, taking them to the highest level in Europe,” Carlo Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday.

Only once in their last seven Madrid derbies has Ancelotti's squad triumphed, a 5-3 victory in extra time at the 2024 Super Cup in Saudi Arabia more than a year ago. Simeone and Ancelotti have been friends for a long time since they both recall playing against one another in Serie A in Italy. 

Carlo Ancelotti recalls his first memory with Diego Simeone

“My first memory of him is as a footballer with Lazio when he scored against Juventus. Lazio won and they took the title, I think it was 2000.” Ancelotti recalls his earliest memory of Diego Simeone as a Lazio player when he scored against Juventus in a league final game. 

Ancelotti stated that Real Madrid would avoid being overconfident due to past performance as the holder attempts to win a record-tying 16th European Cup and eighth championship in 12 seasons. Excitement is certain as both clubs fight for dominance on Europe's biggest stage once more in this eagerly awaited match. Given their long history and fierce rivalry, supporters can anticipate yet another exciting chapter in this ongoing tale of two football titans.