Jude Bellingham has highlighted Carlo Ancelotti's role in Real Madrid beating Man City in the Champions League quarter-final.
"I think our biggest strength is he finds a way to let the boys play with freedom," the Englishman told TNT Sports after the game.
"Some teams are more organised and structured with their passages of play, but one of our biggest strengths is we are off the cuff and he is calm and confident.
"I caught him yawning before the game! I asked him if he was tired and he told me to go out there and excite him."
The sides played 120 minutes as the scoreline was 1-1 at the end of regulation time, meaning the tie was drawn at 4-4. Madrid were clearly gassed in extra time as the Whites spent most of the game chasing the City players.
"I was dead on my feet at the end," Bellingham admitted.
"It’s so difficult because they continuously probe you with the ball. They take you to positions you don’t want to go to. But we stood up really well and we worked hard.
"It was a similar game (to the first leg). A couple of us were doing roles we don’t always need to do. I was pressing very high. But you have to sacrifice your own game and we got the job done."
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