However, he conceded the situation is still not ideal and his team will need an "almost perfect" performance at the Santiago Bernabéu to progress.
Asked about Jude Bellingham's sending-off on Saturday, the manager revealed that after eight years in England "I still haven't worked out the difference between fuck off and fuck you - but what matters is the intention, not the insult [itself]".
This story is from the February 19, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 19, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Madrid's move for Alexander-Arnold opens old wounds
Defender's expected transfer will put him alongside Owen and McManaman as Reds unable to resist the Bernabéu
Assisted dying law thrown into doubt
The introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales will be pushed back by a further two years in a delay that supportive MPs fear could mean the change of law is never realised.
Head coach wants Fifa to move June window
Thomas Tuchel has expressed frustration at the timing of the June international window and the strain it puts on players, saying Fifa ought to look at accommodating it elsewhere in the year.
Reading in brinkmanship battle as sale deadline looms
Reading are trapped in a three-way battle involving the owner, Dai Yongge, and two potential buyers, the American businessmen Robert Platek and Rob Couhig, leaving staff at the club fearing they will be forced into administration next month.
Chelsea Women executive to join global sevens series
World Sevens Football, the lucrative seven-a-side women's series that will start in Portugal in May, is to hire one of Chelsea Women's most senior figures, the Guardian understands.
B&Q's owner calls for rethink on tax rises that will cost the group £45m
The owner of B&Q has called on Rachel Reeves to reconsider planned tax increases for employers.
Asylum hotel contract handed to firm that ran Bibby Stockholm
A company's contract to manage hotel accommodation for thousands of asylum seekers has been axed by the Home Office due to performance concerns and handed to the firm that ran the Bibby Stockholm barge.
European free-loadingLoathing for supposed allies revealed by chats
If Europe wasn't already on notice, the extraordinary leak of deliberations by JD Vance and other top-level Trump administration officials over a strike against the Houthis in Yemen was another sign that it has a target on its back.
Heavy users of ChatGPT are more likely to feel lonely, two studies suggest
Heavy users of ChatGPT tend to be lonelier, more emotionally dependent on the AI tool, and have fewer offline social relationships, new research suggests.
Anger as Shell awards CEO pay increase after cutting green targets
The oil company Shell has revealed plans to hand bigger payouts to its chief executive and shareholders by pumping more oil and gas and halving its green spending.
