Carlo Ancelotti uses Istanbul nightmare to stress La Liga title race is never over
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has stressed that he will never celebrate his side's lead in the La Liga title race, remembering how he was on the wrong end of Liverpool's miracle in Istanbul in 2005.
Monday's 3-0 victory over Mallorca saw Real move ten points clear of second-placed Sevilla with ten games to go, making them clear favourites to go on and secure top-spot.
After the game, the Spanish press were determined to get Ancelotti to declare victory in the title race, but he reminded the media that he is the same manager who watched his AC Milan team give up a three-goal lead in the Champions League final against Liverpool nearly 17 years ago.
"The advantage is good and the idea is to get to the break in good shape," he explained. "Physically the team is fine and, despite the lead, the team is not going to change anything. We are already thinking about winning on Sunday."
When asked how Real could possibly lose their ten-point lead, Ancelotti said: "Just like you lose a Champions League final when you're winning 3-0. It's already happened."
In the back of Ancelotti's mind was Real's fixture list, which includes crunch clashes against some of their title rivals in the coming months.
Third-placed Barcelona will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, while a date with Sevilla is also on the cards midway through April.
May also hosts a Madrid derby against Atletico, before Real close out the season at home to a Real Betis side who currently sit in fifth.