MADRID, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was happy to admit that his side depends on the form of striker Karim Benzema when he spoke to the press ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal return leg against Chelsea in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Benzema netted a hat-trick in the first leg last week to put Chelsea in the driving seat with a 3-1 lead and the Frenchman has scored 35 goals this season (24 in La Liga and 11 in the Champions League) as his side look to complete a domestic and European double.
"The season shows we have two strikers who have stood out a lot, Vinicius Jr and Benzema. In the past, we had Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Gareth) Bale. It's the truth to say we are dependent on Benzema; there is no need to hide it," said Ancelotti.
The Italian said he wasn't reading much into declarations from Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel last week in which Tuchel said his side had no chance of overturning their first-leg defeat.
"Everyone knows that it will be a difficult game, both the team and the fans," said Ancelotti.
"It is the quarterfinal of the Champions League and they are always difficult, despite what happened in the first leg. We must play a complete game, know how to suffer, fight, compete, be in the game for 90 minutes, and to expect a rival who will do their best to win the tie," he said.
However, Ancelotti believes his side's European experience will be a key factor on Tuesday night.
"The good fortune I have is that this squad knows this kind of game well and knows what can happen. The squad is happy and we have the chance to reach a Champions League semifinal," he said, adding that Real Madrid "don't lack anything" to go on to win this season's tournament. ■
