Carlo Ancelotti reveals Man City player Real Madrid targeted in Champions League win | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Real Madrid made a point of targeting goalkeeper Ederson as a potential weak link in Manchester City's lineup during Tuesday night's Champions League clash.

Madrid sealed a dramatic late win at the Etihad Stadium, scoring twice in the closing stages after it looked as though City had done enough when Erling Haaland converted an 80th-minute penalty.

Ederson had a mixed performance in the City goal. After making a number of saves before giving the ball away in the build-up to Madrid's equalising goal from Brahim Diaz and then getting stranded in no-man's land as a Vinicius Junior lob was turned in by Jude Bellingham.

Pressuring Ederson in the hope that mistakes would present opportunities was part of the plan.

"We looked to press high when Ederson had the ball, and to drop to a mid-block when he didn't, with the forwards coming inside and our midfielders not looking to push," Ancelotti explained.

Ederson was identified as a weak point / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

Having been pressed, Ederson decided to kick long when Madrid searched to get level, which led to the visitors reclaiming possession in midfield and going on to score.

Pep Guardiola sought to defend his goalkeeper's decision, insisting City could equally have lost the ball had he opted to play it short instead.

"Eddy decided to play a long ball, it was not a good kick and they scored," Guardiola shrugged. "Maybe we played short and they scored and you say play long. Players take a decision in the moment - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but it's not today, it has happened many times."