Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was left stunned after a 0-3 defeat but refused to rule out a miraculous turnaround in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

“Based on tonight’s performance, it looks like there’s no chance of a comeback,” said Ancelotti at his post-match press conference. “But in football, anything is possible. We must believe. We must hope. Because we’ve seen this before — comebacks at the Bernabéu have happened more than once.”

A Bitter Yet Measured Analysis

The veteran Italian tactician didn’t hide his disappointment with the way his side responded after going behind but emphasized the importance of collective responsibility.

“Our reaction after conceding was very weak. It’s something we’ve seen throughout the season,” he said. “We tried to stay compact, which gave us some good spells in the game, especially in the first half. But there were moments where we completely collapsed.”

“We had the chance to raise our level after the break, but instead we dropped. We couldn’t pull together as a team. When you try to react with individual efforts rather than collectively, you lose control — and that’s what happened. The opponent was simply better with the ball. It’s a disappointing result.”

The return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu now looms as a defining moment for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League campaign. And if there’s one place where miracles are known to happen — it’s in Madrid.