Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that his side "will play with 12 against 11" in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg with Manchester City.
The two teams will lock horns at Bernabeu for the first leg of their last-four affair, and Ancelotti has detailed the importance of the club's fans to their chances of success.
Real Madrid will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final, with Rodrygo netting twice to help the capital giants win the competition for the 20th time.
"Tonight we'll celebrate a little bit... then we'll think about Tuesday. My message is let's go for Tuesday, that's it," the team's head coach told reporters.
"We know that like today and like other days at the Bernabeu, they will push us. We have a small advantage in the first leg and that is that we play with 12 against 11.
"I can only thank this squad, this club and these fans. We have achieved something important today, winning every possible title in two seasons. We are preparing for Tuesday's game in a good, happy and excited atmosphere.
"This Copa has come at an important moment, after overcoming complicated qualifying rounds. It's a well-deserved prize after all the effort. The stress is very big in this type of match, especially when you are such a favourite.
"I'm happy, but fatigue prevails. We will realise tomorrow what we have achieved not only tonight but in these two seasons. Let's think about Tuesday.
"The image of a final played in a very nice atmosphere, against a very strong opponent. We had moments of suffering. In the end we deserved to win, not only because of today but also because of the way we've played in this competition against very difficult opponents. We deserved the title."
Ancelotti also lavished praise on Rodrygo for his two-goal showing against Osasuna, with the Brazilian now scoring 16 goals and registering 11 assists in 51 appearances for Los Blancos during an impressive season.
"He is a very elegant player, who moves well and has the fruit of scoring goals. He is progressing in a spectacular way," the head coach added.
"They made the difference. Vinicius [Junior] was unbalancing them and Rodrygo, two goals. At the moment they both make the difference.
"We played very well for 30 minutes, handling the ball very well, with good transitions and an unstoppable Vinicius. The team wasn't calm when we went into the dressing room.
"This team only has to do one thing: play football, because we do it well and anything else means losing control and concentration. Rodrygo changed the dynamic in the second half."
Real Madrid have locked horns with Man City on eight previous occasions in the Champions League and boast a record of three wins, three losses and two draws against the English champions. body check tags ::
