Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a unique milestone: his fifth Champions League final as head coach. The Italian is praised by his own players in the run-up to the game against Liverpool.
“I consider myself very lucky to be able to work with Ancelotti,” Marcelo praised at the forward-looking press conference on Friday. “He knows exactly how to deal with players. We haven’t had any problems this season and that’s because of him. He keeps us calm and that gives us confidence.”
The 62-year-old Ancelotti dominated this season with Real Madrid in La Liga and crowned himself with his team four rounds before the end of the competition as national champion. He became the first coach to win league titles in all five major leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A).
In addition, Ancelotti faces his fifth Champions League final, something that no one has ever managed to do before. He currently shares the record with Miguel Muñoz, Marcello Lippi and Sir Alex Ferguson.
“The good dynamics within the team are entirely due to the technical staff,” Thibaut Courtois agreed with Marcelo. “We can rely on them to make the right decisions. They do, judging by the fact that everyone has played and where we are now.”
Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to win league titles in all five major leagues.
Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to win league titles in all five major leagues. Photo: Getty Images
Ancelotti lost the final to Liverpool before
Ancelotti has won three of the four previous Champions League finals. He previously won the ‘Big Ears Cup’ with Real Madrid (2014) and AC Milan (2003 and 2007). He lost the final battle with the Italian top club in 2005, of all points against Liverpool.
“I have fond memories of all those finals. Ironically, losing the final against Liverpool is perhaps the best performance one of my teams has delivered in a final,” said Ancelotti, who is hoping for a new good memory in his fifth final.
“We have had time with the current team to prepare well and we will see if that is enough tomorrow. In football things can also happen that you have no control over.”
The final between Liverpool and Real Madrid starts on Saturday at 9 p.m. The match in the Stade de France is led by the French referee Clément Turpin.