adminMADRID. — Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti sent a warning to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus that his side will not relinquish their Champions League soccer title lightly after finally seeing off Atletico Madrid to progress to the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate.
Javier Hernandez scored the only goal of the tie two minutes from time after Atletico had been reduced to 10 men as Arda Turan was sent off for two book-able offences.
It was the first time in eight meetings that Real had beaten Atletico this season, but Ancelotti dismissed suggestions they lack the firepower to compete with tournament favourites Bayern Munich and Barca.
“If we play with the desire we did today, Real Madrid can compete with anyone,” said the Italian.
The holders were without the injured Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as well as the suspended Marcelo.
But Ancelotti is confident that at least Bale and Benzema could be fit for the semi-finals.
“We will recover the injured players for the semi-finals so the things are going to improve.
“I think Bale and Benzema will be fit quickly but I cannot say an exact day.”
Hernandez was an unlikely hero having started just six games all season before Wednesday, but Ancelotti hailed his professionalism despite a lack of first-team opportunities due to the form of Benzema.
“Hernandez played very well, he played with a lot of desire. He has suffered a lot this season, he has played very little but he never gave up.
“In the difficult moments he continued to train well and that has paid off for him in the end.”
The decisive moment in the tie arguably came 12 minutes before Hernandez’s goal, though, as Turan saw a second yellow card for a high challenge on Sergio Ramos.
“I doesn’t make any sense to have an opinion (on the red card) because the game is finished and anything I say can’t affect what has happened,” lamented Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
The outcome was eerily familiar for the La Liga champions as a late goal from Ramos also denied them in last season’s Champions League final before Real romped to a 4-1 victory in extra time.
However, Simeone hailed the work rate of his side to once again push their much richer rivals all the way over 180 minutes.
“I go away proud of my team. Once more we competed very well in a very difficult competition like the Champions League,” he said.
“Competing as we did today, I have sure I have a team of men, a team that work hard. At times we can play better or worse, but I am so proud of the players and to be the coach of these guys who gave what they gave today.
“When I was a boy I was taught that in a game you have to compete and when you give everything and lose I would go home happy. When the team works like it did today there are no negative feelings.
“I think a lot of coaches would envy having players that run for 90 minutes despite the difficulties in front of them.
“We congratulate the opponents because they played very well and scored a great goal.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Ancelotti’s decision to deploy defender Sergio Ramos in central midfield was the key to Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, according to captain Iker Casillas.
Ramos, who normally plays as a centre-back, was in the thick of the action throughout the quarter-final, second leg at the Bernabeu before Hernandez struck two minutes from time to send holders Real through to the semi-finals for a fifth straight season.
Spain international Ramos helped Real dominate the midfield, an area in which they had struggled against Atletico in recent encounters, and it was their first win over their city rivals in eight meetings since last season’s Champions League final.
Atletico barely had a sniff of goal, with Mario Mandzukic labouring ineffectively up front and fellow forward Antoine Griezmann forced into a more defensive role.
The dismissal of Atletico playmaker Turan 14 minutes from time – for a foul on Ramos – dealt a huge blow to their chances of making the last four and Hernandez’s late strike gave Real a deserved 1-0 aggregate win.
Ancelotti’s ploy with Ramos was a surprise as he had used the same tactic in Real’s La Liga 2-1 defeat at Barcelona last month and was widely criticised after the reverse.
“That’s what the coach believed he should do and he (Ramos) played a fundamental role and we all benefited from his commitment,” Casillas told reporters.
“Sometimes you also have to take on board your opponents’ way of playing and today we were really firm and solid in the midfield,” added the 33-year-old Spain goalkeeper.
“We didn’t go backwards at any point, we defended really well and we had really clear chances in attack.”
Real, chasing a record-extending 11th European crown, will find out their opponents in the Champions League last four when the draw is made on Friday. — AFP.
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