Exclusive: According to Carlo Ancelotti, the young players at Real Madrid are the most talented group he has ever coached.

Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Real Madrid, and Jude Bellingham, a player for the team, shared an embrace during their recent LaLiga match against Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 17, 2023.

Ancelotti, a seasoned manager with 32 years of experience, believes that the current group of young players at Real Madrid is the best he has ever worked with. The team boasts a perfect blend of youth and experience, with several young stars consistently making headlines this season.

One standout player is Jude Bellingham, who, at just 20 years old, has had an impressive debut campaign with the club since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer. Bellingham has scored 20 goals and provided 10 assists in 32 appearances across all competitions.

But Bellingham is not the only young talent on the team. Eduardo Camavinga is 21, while Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo are both 23. Together, these four players have scored a total of 53 goals, playing a crucial role in Madrid’s eight-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga. They have also helped secure the team’s place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they will face Manchester City in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

It is no surprise that Ancelotti holds this group of young players in such high regard. When asked if they are the most exciting group he has ever worked with, he responded, “Yes, I think so. In my career, I’ve had a lot of young players, but this group is really good in my opinion, and it will be a great future for this club and for these players because they are really good.”

Ancelotti will be relying on his team to be at their best as they face the reigning UEFA Champions League holders, Manchester City. This match is a chance for Ancelotti to make amends for last season’s 4-0 defeat at the Etihad.

Despite the challenge, Ancelotti has complete faith in his players. He believes that each game is a “different story” and is confident that his team can compete and progress in the competition. He stated, “It is a difficult game, yes, maybe the most difficult game, but we are going to play with a lot of confidence.”

This clash between two football powerhouses also marks a significant milestone for Ancelotti, as he will become the first manager to reach 200 games in Europe’s greatest club competition. Reflecting on this achievement, Ancelotti said, “Two hundred games is a lot of games, and it is a really special competition for me.”

Fans can catch the first leg of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+. The coverage will begin at 19:00 UK time on Tuesday, April 9. TNT Sports is available on major TV platforms, and viewers can also subscribe through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media. To find local establishments showing TNT Sports, fans can use the Pub Finder tool.