Still, it would be surprising if the party in Madrid wasn’t the more exuberant one. Also because the 14th triumph of the record winner in the premier class was one of the most unexpected. “I’m really an optimist, but I never expected that we could win the Supercup, the league and above all the Champions League this year,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was reasonably successful at FC from summer 2016 to September 2017 Bavaria active.
With four victories in the most important European Cup, Ancelotti is now the record holder among coaches, Toni Kroos, after the fifth, unreservedly among German players. And Kroos also admitted “honestly” that “I didn’t expect it before the season. It’s hard to put into words.” The 2014 World Champion seemed unusually emotional, perhaps that’s why he broke off the interview on ZDF shortly after the final whistle because of what he thought were negative questions.
Ultimately, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois secured the first triumph in Real’s favorite competition since 2018. The Belgian lost to Real in the final with Atlético Madrid in 2014, came in 2018 after four Real titles in five years and finally won the pot himself. “I told him you would win the final for us – and he did,” said Ancelotti.
Courtois was “just sorry about my brother who is getting married tomorrow and I can’t be there”. Otherwise, the “man of the match” was overjoyed. “I felt in the first save that nobody would score against me today,” said the Belgian. “Because I would give my life to win the Champions League.” Well, at 30, he’s done it.
