Ancelotti: “Juventus go into the game full of confidence and the semi-final will be close"

Carlo Ancelotti responded to questions from the media in the press room at the Juventus Stadium a day before the first-leg match of the Champions League semi-finals: "I believe that the semi-finals will be close. It has been a few years since they reached this stage of the competition but they won the Italian league last Saturday and go into the game full of confidence. They are a very strong side, with a lot of experience and high-quality players".

"Juventus have always had a strong and competitive side. Winning here is not so easy. Having said that we want to reach the dream we have after winning La Décima and that means playing in the final again. The important thing is to try and play and well as possible showing all of our quality. We are having a good spell. The team is confident and all of the players are doing well. They are going to try and do everything as well as possible".

Tight game
“The semi-final is going to be close and I also think that Juventus are different to Atlético. It will be a different game. Against Atlético we took control and possession, but Juventus also like possession. A different game and a different type of team. The motivation is to compete for the team and to have the opportunity to play in the final and win the Champions League. It will be difficult but we are close".

Juventus
“They can play with three central players or four defenders. That is something we are not sure about but we have to impose our identity and our rhythm on the game. If Juve have got to the semi-final it is because they have deserved it. They are a balanced side and are capable of doing a lot. In the Champions League semi-finals you lose if you are afraid and win if you are brave".