There was a clue in the title. During the year 2009, in a book co-written with the Italian journalist Alessandro Alciato, Carlo Ancelotti, left eyebrow perfectly raised on the front cover, assured that he “preferred the cut”. Fifteen years later, the situation has not really changed for the Italian technician from Real Madrid, who is preparing to play his ninth Champions League final on Saturday against Borussia Dortmund. Three as a player, and six as a coach, six victories, two defeats (one as a player, one as a coach): the harvest was good. Although the years have passed, his brushed white hair and black suit have never looked more fashionable. A sign of his longevity at the highest level as a player and as a manager, Ancelotti is already the only man to have won the Champions League in five different decades (1980′, 1990′, 2000′, 2010′, 2020′). Eternal Carletto.
Although he certainly prefers the cup, the former AC Milan coach has not forgotten the championship. And it is therefore no coincidence that he is the only coach to have been crowned in the five major European championships (Liga, Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga). His track record? Jumble: 4 Champions League, 6 championships, 3 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 10 National Cups and Super Cups…
With two defeats in 54 matches in all competitions this season, he is one step away from winning Real Madrid the Liga – Champions League – Spanish Super Cup treble. A nice revenge for the one that the bad tongues have sometimes described as old-fashioned, especially after his visits to Napoli (2018-2019) and Everton (2019-2021). A true quiet force, the Italian with legendary phlegm never doubted himself. Not really the type to follow today’s theorized football, between xG galore and endless tactical analyses, the “Mister” has (re)made the Spanish giant into a formidable winning machine. With the help of his son and assistant, Davide, and a staff playing a vital role. Impossible not to mention the roles of Francesco Mauri (technical assistant), son of Giovanni, his former historic physical trainer, Mino Fulco, who serves as a bridge between the technical and medical department, or even of the “match analyst” Simone Montanaro and the legendary physical trainer Antonio Pintus.
“Humanly, he gives us a lot of calm and confidence”
“Carlo is the example to follow if you want to become a coachassured Roberto Carlos, Friday, at the microphone of Sky Italia. And from all points of view. As a person, coach, from the way he speaks…”For his former Milan teammate Ruud Gullit, Ancelotti”knows everything about football“, “not just tactics“, but also “all mental aspects“.”He knows how to make the most of all the important players“, analyzed the former Dutch international on the transalpine channel from Wembley, venue of the grand final on Saturday. “His strength is that he is a quiet person. He knows it’s a final, but he doesn’t lose any of his peace of mind“, estimated the former Brazilian full-back Marcos Cafu, who came under his orders in Lombardy.
Carlo Ancelotti won his second Champions League as coach with AC Milan in 2007. He will aim for a third with Real Madrid on Saturday in Lisbon.
Credit: AFP
Adored by his players, old and new, “the man who whispers in the ear of the stars” has been able to reinvent himself and adapt his tactical plan to highlight Jude Bellingham, the UFO of the Madrid season. A profitable choice, coupled with perfect management of egos and skillful management, which allowed Real to overcome all obstacles, even when everything seemed lost like in the semi-final against Bayern Munich (led 1-0 in the 87th minute , 2-1 victory). Like his club, Ancelotti never gives in to panic. No matter the circumstances and no matter the scenario. An example ? 2014 Champions League final. Atlético leads 1-0 in added time, and Real then seems on the edge of the precipice. “I ask him if he hadn’t been worried before Sergio Ramos’ equalizer. He replied, ‘Not at all, there was one minute left.’ There you go, that’s Carlo Ancelotti“, remembered Paolo Condo, great writer of Italian journalism and now consultant on the set of Sky.
“I believe our greatest strength is that he finds a way to let us play with freedom. We are a little unpredictable. Humanly, he transmits to us a lot of calm and confidence“explained Bellingham about his coach. “We are like father and son“, summed up Brazilian defender Eder Militao after the celebration of the Spanish champion title. The Italian technician managed to support the blossoming of his young talents (Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouaméni…) while involving his aging elements ( Modric, Nacho, Vasquez…) at the appropriate time, during a season weighed down by injuries.
If your locker room doesn’t work, you’re missing something.
The day after the miracle qualification against Bayern, Ancelotti received tons of messages and calls. Without being able to answer everyone. But when the phone said “Arrigo Sacchi”, he took the time to answer. “He said to me: ‘It’s a tactic, Arrigo. We pretend to be dead and, suddenly, at the end of the match, we get up and win! They are all good boys who understood the importance of the collective‘”, wrote the former AC Milan coach in his column in the columns of La Gazzetta dello Sport. Carletto crosses generations and ages. He sees his former players become coaches, one after the other, some with more success than others. But he is still there, cigar in mouth and sunglasses, as in his images captured by the whole world during the recent celebration of the Spanish championship title with his players. A proximity that has always differentiated him from his friends. “I behave simply and naturallyhe told the daily La Repubblica Tuesday. And with respect for everyone. For me, personal relationships come before professional relationships: if your locker room doesn’t work, it’s because you’ve missed something..”
The 64-year-old coach, crowned with AC Milan (2003 and 2007) and Real Madrid (2014 and 2022), was calm and determined at the same time, as usual, at a press conference on Friday. “In this type of matches, the most important thing is to clearly put in the players’ heads what they must do on the pitch. The clearer I am, the less nervous the team will be“, he explained. Before a final, “I really focus on the tactical aspect. Emotions come next and everyone has to deal with them individually. There will be emotions, a little fear, but fear is an important thing to do things well“.
“As if it was my first”
“Ancelotti invented a new system (this season), the team has been a rock despite the absences in key positions, I can’t think of a better coach for Real Madrid“, said former player Alvaro Benito, who has become a much-listened commentator, on Cadena Ser radio. Karim Benzema left, the Italian did not flinch and adapted, while waiting for Kylian Mbappé this summer. “The injuries we had at the start of the season helped us understand that the way to overcome them is not individuality but the collective“, recalled Ancelotti on the eve of Madrid’s La Liga coronation. “And the matches we can’t win, we must not lose” he summed up in February. Real’s European journey illustrates this mantra well: Ancelotti’s men are close to a 15th C1, after having so far won only two of their six matches in the elimination phase. , against Leipzig in the first leg (1-0) and Bayern on the return leg (2-1).
“But what is his secret ?” Ancelotti, the timeless
Aware that the Champions League “provides unique emotions“, as he told the UEFA website this week, Ancelotti does not tire of it despite five decades behind him. But the end clap is inevitably approaching for the one who allowed himself to refuse – all the same – the position of coach of Brazil.Football is complicated and simple at the same timehe concluded Republic. But it is still simpler. You just need to have passion and not complicate it, precisely, with obsession. Obsession is a disease and I, fortunately, still have a lot of passion. The secret is to put passion into it and enjoy the pleasure. This work is also a game. And you have to remove the stress (…) I will end my career after Real Madrid, but first I want to win another Champions League. I feel this final as if it were my first.”
