Peter Schmeichel has suggested that Real Madrid are undeserving of their place in the Champions League final, claiming that Carlo Ancelotti 's team have "no right."
The Manchester United legend was stunned by Los Blancos' epic comeback against Manchester City - another of his former clubs - in a dramatic semi-final second leg. 5-3 down on aggregate heading into six minutes of injury time, two goals in two minutes from substitute Rodrygo salvaged extra-time at a rapturous Santiago Bernabeu.
With City dead on their feet, talisman Karim Benzema slotted home the winner from the penalty spot after drawing a clumsy foul from Ruben Dias to seal the win. As Real remarkably booked their ticket to Paris and will face Liverpool at the Stade de France on Saturday, May 28, Schmeichel attempted to dismiss their credentials, having had to come from behind at some stage in all three of their knockout ties this season.
"The first chance was the first goal in the 90th minute, the second goal was the second chance and the third goal was the third time they hit the target," the 1999 Champions League winner explained on CBS Sports post-match. "Real Madrid have got no right to be in that final. They were the poorest team by a mile over the two games.
"Man City were in full control but it's that one moment we talked about that. We talked about how that stadium in there could be the 12th man. When they started that second half, that chance after just eight seconds it was like they set the whole place on fire and it was just unbelievable.
"I feel a little bit sorry for Manchester City, I have to say that because I thought apart from that goal in the 90th minute they played really well, they had everything under control. Rodri in midfield was awesome tonight and I'm not going to criticise anything, but if you lose a player like Kevin De Bruyne and the game turns out in the way it does then you miss him in that last 30 minutes and he was sorely missed.
Have your say! Do you agree with Schmeichel? Comment your thoughts below.
"But I mean my God! Real Madrid, where does that come from? I have absolutely no idea. They didn't play well. Predicting this Champions League has been very, very difficult. I had Bayern Munich winning it and they got knocked out in the quarter-finals.
"I did think Real Madrid would go into the final because of the situation in England but they were so poor. Only the game at Chelsea was good. I don't understand anything about football any more."
There were far more in awe of Ancelotti and co's comeback, though, ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand declaring on BT Sport : "You should never doubt the players in this team. We have always said, experience counts for so much in this competition, but they showed heart, desire. These players, they have been there, they have seen this.
"The fact that they have so many players in this squad that have won multiple Champions Leagues, at no point in this tournament did you see them panic. No matter where they are, what players that they have got, these boys trust each other, trust the manager, and this crowd, they have been crazy."
