Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has doubled down on the club's decision to snub last year's Ballon d'Or. Los Blancos boycotted October's glitzy ceremony in Paris after Vinicius Jr was pipped to the main prize.
Real felt that Vinicius deserved to win the award instead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who came out on top after winning the Premier League and helping Spain lift Euro 2024. Jude Bellingham finished third - with Dani Carvajal fourth and Erling Haaland completing the top five.
The club's move to not attend the Ballon d'Or was criticised - with some believing it lacked respect. In addition, Ancelotti didn't even collect his Coach of the Year award in person.
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Despite this, Ancelotti has defended Real's decision not to be there. The ex-AC Milan, Chelsea and Juventus boss said in his pre-match press conference ahead of his team's trip to the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League: "I don't think it was the wrong decision.
"We thought Vini was the winner of the Ballon D'Or. It doesn't mean we don't respect Rodri - because he is a fantastic player - and I think Rodri deserved to win it the year before."
Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola insisted he had no ill-feeling towards Real over their Ballon d'Or boycott. "Absolutely not," said Guardiola when asked at his pre-match press conference if any resentment lingered.
"I was happy for Rodri, but Vinicius made an extraordinary year as well. He could deserve it, like in the past when [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] were fighting for it. So, the subject is over."
Real boast serious talent in their forward line - including Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius. And Guardiola is well-aware of their qualities going into the Champions League play-off first leg tie on Tuesday.
He said: "I think it's impossible for 90 minutes, 180 minutes or 200 minutes - it depends on extra time - to control these four players. Everybody knows they are exceptional.
"How they combine, the runners, their ability one against one, how they keep the ball - we know that it is going to happen. We accept it and have to reduce their involvement as much as possible.
"At the same time we are going to try to impose our game and be smart, especially in the first leg. We have to play to get a good result for [the Santiago] Bernabeu."
