Carlo Ancelotti was typically candid in his pre-match press conference ahead of the first leg of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.
The Italian discussed the respect he holds for his touchline counterpart and decried a lack of courage during Madrid's beatdown at the Etihad last season before noting there shall be no surprises regarding his team selection.
Ancelotti merely has two long-term injuries to mitigate, although there is some debate as to who'll start alongside Federico Valverde in midfield on Tuesday night. The boss has high-quality options at his disposal, but which dynamic will provide the right balance against a sky blue juggernaut?
Here's how Madrid could line up against City for the first leg in the Spanish capital.
GK: Andriy Lunin - Thibaut Courtois has been so pivotal for Madrid in this competition, but Lunin's Champions League knockout stage career started superbly in the round of 16.
RB: Dani Carvajal - Carvajal will be his industrious self on Tuesday, hassling Jack Grealish (probably) throughout the contest. He's surely a banker for a booking.
CB: Antonio Rudiger — Rudiger loved his tussle with Erling Haaland last season and he'll attempt to tame the Nordic striker in Madrid.
CB: Eder Militao — Ancelotti admitted he's not yet decided who will partner Rudiger on Tuesday, but Militao will be desperate for a start having returned to fitness following seven months out. It's a risk, but a rusty Militao is probably still better than Nacho.
LB: Ferland Mendy — Mendy has streaked away from Fran Garcia in the left-back depth chart and is a shoo-in to start against City given the resurgent season he's enjoyed.
DM: Eduardo Camavinga - It feels like a toss-of-a-coin decision as to
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