On Tuesday night, Carlo Ancelotti released a piece in the Telegraph. The 57-year-old manager, who managed Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015 and guided the club to La Decima in between, analyzed the clash between Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Euro 2016 semi-final showdown between Wales and Portugal.
"I have seen these two boys sweating over an eight-a-side game many times during my two years at Madrid,”his note revealed.
Describing Gareth Bale as being more "adaptable" than his Real Madrid colleague Cristiano Ronaldo who preferred playing on the left under Carlo Ancelotti, the latter added:
"I have seen Gareth change a lot in the last year. You can see he is much more confident. [...] with his national team he is learning what it is like to be a leader.
"I also said before [Euro 2016] started that Wales could do something in France. I hope you remember this. I recalled those conversations I had with Gareth."
The current Bayern Munich boss also commended Cristiano Ronaldo’s leadership which was best showcased during Portugal’s penalty shoot-out victory against Poland. The 31-year-old skipper stepped up to take the first spot kick and set the tone for his team mates. None of them missed – not even midfielder Joao Moutinho who missed his penalty against Spain in the Euro 2012 semis.
WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo convinces Moutinho to take a penalty
“Penalty shoot-outs are 100 per cent psychological. You can practice them all day in the training ground but you are wasting your time,” Carlo Ancelotti wrote.
Concluding his piece on the Telegraph, he predicted:
“If [Portugal vs Wales] goes to penalties, then I can see both Cristiano and Gareth wanting to take the first one for their teams. One thing is for sure: they will not be hiding under the bench when their manager is looking for volunteers.”
This claim sounds interesting, considering incidents relating to penalty shootouts, recently; namely, Lionel Messi missing his kick in the Copa America and announcing his retirement shortly after, and Italy's Zaza becoming a laughing stock for strangely trotting and sending his ball wide as the Azzurri crashed out of Euro 2016.
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