Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has already dropped a huge hint to Liverpool over how the Reds could beat them in the Champions League final.
The two sides come together in the French capital Paris as they both battle to add to their lengthy European honours list. The Spanish giants will be aiming to lift the 14th European Cup in their history having dominated the competition. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp ’s Liverpool are eyeing their seventh title having reached their third final in all under the German schemer.
It is certainly set to be an intriguing battle at the Stade de France with the Reds having been in electric form this season and gone mightily close to sealing what would be an historical quadruple. Elsewhere, Real have once again been superior in La Liga under former Everton boss Ancelotti.
Despite their dominance of the Spanish top-flight, there have been a few aberrations from Los Blancos this season - none least the 4-0 reverse at the hands of Classico rivals Barcelona back in March. During his post-match dissection of the game, Real boss Ancelotti revealed that his side struggled with the way the Catalan giants dominated the ball.
Speaking after the game, the Italian said: “We have not been recognisable, everything has gone wrong. I have told the players that it was my fault. We suffered a lot, tried to start with a high press, but Barcelona found spaces, controlled possession and it was a difficult night.
He continued: “I don’t think it was a lack of a reference point, we could’ve kept the ball better with Modric’s position. The problem was that we couldn’t get the ball back the way we wanted to, and when we went behind it became even more difficult.”
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Intriguingly, that could potentially play right into Liverpool’s hands as the two sides prepare to meet at the Stade de France. Whilst not necessarily a side famed for keeping the ball, the Reds have actually averaged the second-highest amount of ball possession in the Premier League this season - 63.1% according to WhoScored.
Real have not got anywhere close to that figure with an average possession of 57.9% throughout the campaign so far. It might well be suggested then that if Liverpool are able to starve their Spanish contemporaries of the ball - as they have been doing for the majority of the season already - then they will have an excellent chance of claiming the trophy.
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