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Ancelotti applauds Madrid mentality

Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid CF showed "a good attitude" while Jens Keller believed FC Schalke 04 had restored their pride despite suffering a heavy aggregate defeat.

Ancelotti applauds Madrid mentality
Ancelotti applauds Madrid mentality ©UEFA.com

Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach
I had no doubt about playing Cristiano [Ronaldo]: he's fine, recovering well, has no problems playing. He always plays because his physique is perfect. We've not had any luck with Jesé's injury, but that's football. We send him our encouragement and we hope to get lucky. He has to go through medical tests, but it seems to be a cruciate ligament injury. It is a big absence for us because he was having a fantastic season. We have to wait and after this injury he will still be an important player for Madrid.

We go into the game against Barcelona in good shape, we have shown a good attitude, especially in the second half. Every team left in the competition is very strong, and in the quarter-finals will be the best teams in Europe.

Let's see what happens in the draw. Three Spanish clubs is very good for Spanish football. All the opponents will be difficult. Tomorrow there may be a surprise with Olympiacos, but the rest of the clubs are the best. It will be very difficult in the quarter-finals.

Jens Keller, Schalke coach
Everyone who watched the game tonight saw that we restored our honour. The team displayed a fighting mentality. Obviously Madrid had several chances to score, but [Ralf] Fährmann put in a world-class performance. The team rehabilitated themselves with that showing. I was pleased with the level of aggression but it's a shame that we didn't get a better result.

Two individual mistakes kept us from recording a draw here, but I was pleased with the display nonetheless. Ronaldo didn't become world player of the year for nothing. His qualities are outstanding.

Bayern and Madrid are both big clubs, but I think Bayern make it a bit more difficult for opponents to get into possession and overall I think they are a bit stronger than Madrid. But there isn't much between them.

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