Real Madrid wrapped up the La Liga title over the weekend with four games remaining, but that didn’t stop manager Carlo Ancelotti from being really critical of his team’s performance in their 2-2 draw in the first-leg of the Champions League semi in Germany.

He has warned his players that they cannot afford another subpar performance if they want to compete in the June 1 final at Wembley Stadium.

Real Madrid needs to play with more pace and intensity if they want to keep alive their hopes of securing the LaLiga-European Cup double by defeating Bayern Munich in the return leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Read Also:Ancelotti: “It’s a deserved La Liga title for Real Madrid’

“We need a match with intensity, with pace… Looking at the first leg, defensively we could have done a lot more,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Tuesday, insisting that his side cannot afford to underestimate the challenge posed by Bayern despite the German side’s disappointing domestic campaign.

Bayern’s 11-year Bundesliga dominance came to an end last month when Bayer Leverkusen won the league title, but Ancelotti stated that the six-time champions of the European Cup will be even more driven to win the one prize they have left to compete for this season.

“(Bayern and Real) are similar clubs because they have a great history and a lot of success.

“We have to respect our opponents because they did very well and better than us in the first leg,” Ancelotti said.

“We are very excited because it could be another magical night for us, but there is no optimism. We are aware of the difficulties that we are going to face.”

One of Real Madrid’s most seasoned players and five-time Champions League champion Dani Carvajal joked that Ancelotti was “getting more and more fearful” over the years, but he praised his coach’s role in keeping the team focused on winning a record-extending 15th title in Europe’s top club competition.

Dani Carvajal acknowledged that they feel the fans remain confident about their chances of reaching the final due to their unbeaten run in the competition this season.

“There is euphoria because we are having a great year,” Carvajal told a press conference just days after Real claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title.

“We are all very excited about the European Cup.

“We know it in the dressing room.

“In the street the fans congratulate us and give us a lot of encouragement to dream of winning it again.

“We are two games away from winning the Champions League.

“Ancelotti has kept our eyes open and we have all added up.

That’s what counts to achieve the objectives.”