Carlo Ancelotti issues Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard verdicts ahead of Arsenal vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Arsenal. It will be the tie of the round, and it begins in London, with Arsenal getting the first chance to make their home advantage count.

The Gunners are out of the Premier League race, so this competition is their last remaining avenue to silverwear, while Real Madrid are four points off the La Liga leaders Barcelona after a shock defeat to Valencia over the weekend, and as well as still being alive in the Champions League, they have a Copa del Rey final with Barcelona to look forward to on April 26.

Los Blancos are the current holders of the Champions League, and they will be determined to defend it, aided by Kylian Mbappe, who is on a mission to win his first ever title in this competition.

Arsenal boss Arteta was complimentary of Ancelotti in his press conference on Monday, and Ancelotti has now returned the favour, saying in his later in the day: “Arteta is doing a fantastic job, and I appreciate what he said this morning. He has taken his team to the top of Europe and, above all, built a complete side in Europe. There aren’t many teams like that.”

Ancelotti also had his say on Arsenal danger man Martin Odegaard, adding: “He s very young. The talent he has now is what he had when he was 16. He also had character and the courage to leave, and to to be one of the best in Europe.”

Odegaard came up in both press conferences as the Norwegian preparing to face his former club, and Arteta also had his say. “I think it's very important for the football club because we recruited a player who fits every quality to deliver performances, the demands that we want and then the person who is an exceptional representative of the values of this football club,” said the Spaniard. “Our history and it has been pivotal from where we were to where we are, the role that he's played and how much he has contributed to getting us to where we are at the moment.”

Arteta on Real Madrid

Speaking about Tuesday night’s opposition, Arteta said: “There are things that we cannot control which is what they are going to prepare and what they can do. We have to focus and our energy has to be on that. Understanding what puts us in our strengths and what puts us in our weaknesses and the direction that we want to play in the game.”

Asked if he had a plan to stop Real Madrid’s star-studded attack, he added: “With the individual qualities that they have, especially when you put them in certain situations, you know the danger that you are facing. But that's the stage, it doesn't get much bigger than that. What they've been doing in this competition is they can create those moments, and when it comes to the biggest stage, individual performance of players can decide a game and are critical for your success and that’s something that we have to prevent.”

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