This is what Carlo Ancelotti was heard saying about Liverpool at training today ahead of upcoming Champions League match at Anfield.

Two things Ancelotti has done at Real Madrid show huge respect to Liverpool ahead of Anfield clash
Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a strong message to his Real Madrid squad ahead of their upcoming clash with Liverpool later this month.

The two football powerhouses will face off at Anfield in two weeks, with Liverpool currently leading both the Premier League and the Champions League. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has been somewhat inconsistent as they aim to defend their European title.

Ancelotti, a proven winner with a decorated managerial career, has made it clear to both players and staff at the Bernabeu the high standards required to defeat Liverpool under manager Arne Slot.

According to Spanish journalists Sergio Gomez and Alfredo Matilla, as reported by Madrid Xtra, Ancelotti has demanded a drastic overhaul of Real Madrid’s physical training regimen, even though only seven first-team players are at the club during the current international break.

The former Everton manager is said to have delivered a direct and urgent message at the Valdebebas training ground: “Either we raise our level, or Liverpool will sweep us away.”

Despite Carlo Ancelotti’s impressive record against Liverpool—having defeated them 11 times in 19 encounters with five different clubs, including two Champions League finals—it’s clear that he recognizes the challenge posed by Jurgen Klopp’s side under Arne Slot this season.

Real Madrid’s campaign has been unusually inconsistent, with the team failing to win six of their 16 matches so far, including three losses—two of them in Europe, and a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona in El Clasico.

Injuries have also taken a toll on Los Blancos, with key players like Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao sidelined for the long term, contributing to growing frustration within the squad, particularly with fitness coach Antonio Pintus.

While history suggests that the 15-time European champions usually rise to the occasion against Liverpool, Ancelotti appears to be fully aware that if his team doesn’t meet the high standards he’s demanding, the Redscould secure their first victory over Real Madrid since 2009, having lost the previous seven encounters.

By calling for a major overhaul in his team’s training and warning that Liverpool could “sweep them away,” the 65-year-old is showing the utmost respect for the Merseysiders as they prepare for the upcoming clash at Anfield.