All the tears belonged to Manchester City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Not much that happens in this competition surprises Ancelotti, a European champion twice as a player and five times as a coach, but the manner of their 3-2 victory over Manchester City felt like a revelation to the Madrid coach.

Manchester City forward Jack Grealish was injured and substituted after 30 minutes in Tuesday’s Champions League playoff against Real Madrid.