'Innocent' Ancelotti defends himself against charges of alleged tax fraud

Madrid struggled mightily against RB Leipzig to book their place in the quarter-finals. The 'Merengues' were held to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu and made the 0-1 scoreline from the first leg enough to keep them in the Champions League. Ancelotti, already in front of the microphones of 'Movistar Liga de Campeones', spoke first of all about the request from the Public Prosecutor's Office for 4 years and 9 months in prison for an alleged tax fraud valued at 1 million euros.

"No action. It's an old story that started 8 years ago for a 2015 declaration, because the Prosecutor's Office thinks I was a resident and I think I was not a resident. I have already paid the fine. The money is already with the Prosecutor's Office and the lawyers are talking to find a solution," Ancelotti said on 'Movistar Liga de Campeones'.

"I am convinced that I am innocent because I was not a resident in 2015 and they think I was. Let's see what the judge decides.

 

March 7, 2024

Regarding the match, the Italian coach admitted that his team played a poor game: "A bad game, badly played, with little intensity, with a bit of concern. We played against an opponent with quality, with nothing to lose and we had the brakes on from the start. We suffered, but the important thing is to reach the quarter-finals.

"The idea was to press more with energetic midfielders, but we were in a low block with little attacking vertically. This can happen sometimes in a Champions League round. You can have a bad game and you can be eliminated," said the Italian in relation to the idea of leaving Rodrygo on the bench to play with five midfielders.

In addition, the 'Merengues' coach assured that they will make an "evaluation" of the clash: "We have to be self-critical, but not too much. We have a good points cushion in La Liga and we are in the Champions League quarter-finals".