Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti (Photo: AP)
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was far from satisfied with his side's performance against Schalke despite marching through to the Champions League last-eight following a 4-3 second-leg home defeat to the Germans.
Real survived a scare in the return leg on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, having been on the brink of elimination despite their 2-0 advantage from the first leg.
With their defence and midfield looking far from consistent throughout the match, Ancelotti's men embarrassingly conceded four goals at their home stadium, as Schalke needed only one goal to secure progress to the competition's last-eight.
"We had problems in all aspects of our game," Ancelotti said after the return leg.
"We have to say it clearly, we are playing very badly. It's almost incomprehensible considering how we were playing before Christmas."
The ex-Chelsea tactician, however, looked upbeat with the imminent arrival of veteran Sergio Ramos who will provide a "sense of responsibility and character" to the team's shaky defense after recuperating from a muscle injury.
The action started when Schalke needed 20 minutes to open the scoring, and it was star defender Christian Fuchs who gave them the lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalized five minutes later with a trademark header but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar came back to haunt them again just five minutes from half-time.
B'allon d'Or winner Ronaldo, again, pulled level on the stroke of half-time with a superb header as both teams entered the dressing rooms drawing 2-2.
Real Madrid finally took the lead for the first time seven minutes into the second half when Karim Benzema's strike made it 3-2, but some cracking goals from substitute Leroy Sane and Huntelaar set up a nervy ending to the meeting – with the home side lucky to go through.
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