Booing Ronaldo will do nothing, Ancelotti warns Liverpool fans

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned Liverpool fans that it will not help their team’s cause to boo Cristiano Ronaldo when the European champions visit Anfield on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, 29, spent six years at Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United earlier in his career, meaning the current holder of the Ballon d’Or is set for a barracking from the home fans when he faces them in their Champions League encounter.

However, Ancelotti does not believe that his star forward’s return to the home of his old foe – a ground where he has never scored in five previous appearances – will affect him.

When asked about it, Ancelotti laughed and said: “No, he won’t be more motivated because it’s Liverpool.

“Cristiano is always super-motivated. But if the atmosphere is hostile it motivates him more.”

The former AC Milan and Chelsea boss was a Roma player when the Italian side faced Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup final, although he missed the match through injury. Despite Liverpool winning that match to claim their fourth European crown, Ancelotti revealed that the atmosphere created by the club’s fans means he has had a soft spot for the Merseyside club ever since.

“I followed Liverpool from 1984 when I faced them with Roma in the European Cup final and we lost on penalties,” he said. “It’s always been a club that make me emotional.

“‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is incredible. No one sings it the way Liverpool fans do.”

Ancelotti was also in charge of AC Milan for the 2005 final in Istanbul, which his side led 3-0 at half-time but let that lead slip and eventually lost in a penalty shootout.

‘The Paolo Maldini of Liverpool’

“I remember how they sang it at the end of the first half in Istanbul,” he added. “Incredible. One of the memories which had the biggest impact in my career.

“When we play I will go out early at Anfield because I want to hear fans sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ It gives me so much emotion. I go on the internet and I listen to it and I make friends watch it. It’s really unique. Really.

“I was surprised they were singing at half-time. For an Italian it was a shock. But they are real fans. In Italy if you’re losing 3-0… it’s not that they jeer you – they throw stones at you.

“I don’t think it was fundamental for the Liverpool comeback but it helps.”

Real will be without Gareth Bale on Wednesday as he struggles with a muscle injury, and Ancelotti clearly feels the Welsh forward will be a loss.

“Bale is one of the best I’ve ever managed,” he said. “In the top 10.

“In his first year at Real he had an amazing season. And for a Brit it is not easy to enter into this ambience and with the pressure of the fee paid for him on his shoulders.”

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