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Cape Town - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes a hostile Anfield
crowd will motivate Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their Champions League
clash with Liverpool.
The European champions currently top Group B following wins in their first to games with Lodgorets and Basel and travel to Anfield to take on the Reds on Wednesday in what looks to be the pick of the fixtures in the group.
And Ancelotti says that while Ronaldo has no trouble with motivating himself, an antagonistic reception from the Anfield faithful will spur him on even more considering his Manchester United roots.
"Cristiano is always super-motivated but if the atmosphere is hostile then that will motivate him even more," the former Milan manager told the Daily Sun.
"But no, he will not be even more motivated because it is Liverpool and he is a former Manchester United player.
Ancelotti added that the fixture has a special place in his heart and says he looks fondly upon the Reds 2005 Champions League triumph despite his side's monumental collapse in Istanbul.
"I’ve followed Liverpool since 1984 after facing them with Roma in the European Cup Final, when we lost on penalties.
"It’s always been a club that excites me. The ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ they sing is incredible. Nobody sings an anthem like Liverpool fans.
"Tomorrow, before the game, I’m going to go out onto the pitch early because I want to hear them sing it.
"I’m so excited...sometimes I look for it on the internet and put it on for my friends. It’s something really unique, seriously.
"I remember when we played them in Istanbul [in the Champions League Final] and we were winning 3-0 at the break.
"There were 45,000 Liverpool fans in the ground singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ for 10 minutes. It was incredible and for an Italian it was a shock
"In Italy if you are losing 3-0 they don’t just make fun of you, they throw stones. It is one of the greatest memories of my career.
"I don’t think it was fundamental in Liverpool’s comeback, but it helped."
The European champions currently top Group B following wins in their first to games with Lodgorets and Basel and travel to Anfield to take on the Reds on Wednesday in what looks to be the pick of the fixtures in the group.
And Ancelotti says that while Ronaldo has no trouble with motivating himself, an antagonistic reception from the Anfield faithful will spur him on even more considering his Manchester United roots.
"Cristiano is always super-motivated but if the atmosphere is hostile then that will motivate him even more," the former Milan manager told the Daily Sun.
"But no, he will not be even more motivated because it is Liverpool and he is a former Manchester United player.
Ancelotti added that the fixture has a special place in his heart and says he looks fondly upon the Reds 2005 Champions League triumph despite his side's monumental collapse in Istanbul.
"I’ve followed Liverpool since 1984 after facing them with Roma in the European Cup Final, when we lost on penalties.
"It’s always been a club that excites me. The ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ they sing is incredible. Nobody sings an anthem like Liverpool fans.
"Tomorrow, before the game, I’m going to go out onto the pitch early because I want to hear them sing it.
"I’m so excited...sometimes I look for it on the internet and put it on for my friends. It’s something really unique, seriously.
"I remember when we played them in Istanbul [in the Champions League Final] and we were winning 3-0 at the break.
"There were 45,000 Liverpool fans in the ground singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ for 10 minutes. It was incredible and for an Italian it was a shock
"In Italy if you are losing 3-0 they don’t just make fun of you, they throw stones. It is one of the greatest memories of my career.
"I don’t think it was fundamental in Liverpool’s comeback, but it helped."
