Real Madrid isn't in its best form right now. In the 2024/25 Champions League, the team is 20th in the group stage, a placement far from the history of the most successful club in the tournament. However, if there is anybody who doesn't count it out, then that somebody is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward thinks Real Madrid are always a real threat, even when going through tricky times.
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Real Madrid never loses
During the Globe Soccer awards, Cristiano Ronaldo was clear when it came to making his forecasts for the current Champions League edition: "Even though the situation is complicated, the merengues have it all to turn this around and keep fighting". "I would bet again on Real Madrid winning the Champions because all the other teams get scared playing in the Bernabéu against them. I'd bet on Real Madrid because they always come back, they had difficulties and improved really fast," said the star.
It was a nod to Real Madrid's power in European soccer, a club that has time and again proved it could apply a winning mentality amid adversity.
The importance of the Bernabéu and Real's history: The Bernabéu is, as Ronaldo mentions, a stage where opponents feel that weight of decades of triumphs. He says the stadium is one of the most powerful weapons in the team.
And the upcoming games could be the moment to reaffirm that strength. With two games remaining in the group stage, Real Madrid needs to defeat RB Salzburg at home and Brest away to have a chance at securing direct qualification to the knockout stage. While the situation looks tough, history shows that the Merengues thrive in these types of scenarios.
Carlo Ancelotti’s role in the comeback
Cristiano Ronaldo also underlined the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, a coach very well known to him and with whom he worked at Real Madrid. To him, Ancelotti possesses one touch of key quality while running a diverse and pressured outfit: "When people ask me why Carlo is a good coach, I always say he knows how to negotiate with players one by one. That's key to achieving success."
With Ancelotti at the helm, Real Madrid has shown resilience. The manager is not only aware of the tactical dimensions of the competition but also seems competent enough to motivate his players beyond mere psychological barriers. Ronaldo felt that this quality would help transform critical moments into victories.
Champions League math is still favorable
Real Madrid currently trails the top 8 by four points, which means direct qualification to the knockout rounds. That 8th place is occupied by Lille, with 13 points. The team needs to win both remaining games and wait for some stumbles from its direct competitors to qualify.
Of course, the team will play in the playoffs, provided they come between 9th and 24th place, though this way is not to come out top 8. But Ronaldo said Real should want the most direct route in any case: "They always improve when they need to."
In his analysis, Ronaldo also reminded that pressure on Real Madrid isn't something new. "Great players know where the problem lies," the Portuguese forward said when asked about tough moments for top teams. That phrase doesn't just apply to Manchester City, but perfectly mirrors the current situation of the Merengues.