Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to face AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Real will meet Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the competition, while Milan will play Napoli in the same role.
And because of the bad season that Chelsea is currently presenting in the English Premier League, Madrid will be the most prominent candidate to win the meeting.
For Milan, the situation is different as Napoli have outperformed their rivals in Serie A this season, but Milan will have Ancelotti’s support.
And when asked what he told Paolo Maldini, the former defender and current coach of Milan, in a recent phone call between them, Ancelotti told Radio “Rai 1”: Above all, it was a wish for Milan, as I am one of his fans.
He added: In fact, the Milan-Napoli match will be very balanced and uncertain.
He emphasized: Would it be great to face them in Istanbul? For Madrid, yes, I think for Milan too, but everyone wants to go to Istanbul.
In the press conference ahead of the quarter-final first leg against Chelsea, Ancelotti once again highlighted his desire to face Maldini in the final – especially since the host city does not hold fond memories of Ancelotti and Maldini, who lost in Istanbul to Liverpool in the 2005 final.
Ancelotti said: Paolo and Istanbul are not a good memory especially in 2005. I love Maldini a lot, he was the captain of my team and my partner and if we could see each other on my birthday (the day of the final match) that would be a very good thing.
