As Real Madrid brought a 14th European Cup back to the Spanish capital, first to the city’s Almudena Cathedral, then to the Cibeles fountain where they celebrate their trophies before the Bernabeu, the respect for one man was clear.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti may be self-effacing but he enjoys these celebrations. On Saturday in Paris, just after the 1-0 victory over Liverpool, he promised he would sing at the Cibeles and at the stadium with the fans, then he is set to take a summer break in his home on Canada’s west coast.
Sunday’s celebrations followed another after Madrid won La Liga at the start of May, when he was pictured in shades smoking a cigar with the smiling Madrid players.
“No, I don’t smoke cigars,” he said after, just for clarification. “It was only a photo with my friends. Yes these players are my friends.” And how you believe it when you see how he gets by with a little help from his friends.
A year ago, Ancelotti’s Everton side lost their final game of the season 5-0 and finished tenth. It wasn’t seen as a success then, though it looks a little more respectable after their struggles this season just finished.
The 62-year-old walked out of Everton for Madrid – as most would – but they were uncertain times at the Bernabeu. Madrid didn’t lose money during the pandemic like most clubs, but there were expectations in some quarters that they would given the huge cost of redeveloping their stadium.
That, and the loss of key players in recent years from Cristiano Ronaldo to the sidelined Gareth Bale, to defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. The team were in a rebuild phase where they weren’t expected to add to their record 13 European Cups as they welded together a new Madrid of stellar emerging talents like Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Others like Martin Odegaard, Sergio Reguilon and Achraf Hakimi were sold because Madrid needed money, especially as there were no takers for Bale’s vast wages. Neighbours Atletico were champions, two English teams had contested the 2021 Champions League final and Real were building up a fund to sign Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe in 2022.
Liverpool v Real Madrid player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had little to do but got into a muddle for the disallowed goal. Some of his expeditions out of his area verged on erratic. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 23-year-old had a few good moments but was not as influential as usual. If he had checked over his shoulder, it might have been possible to stop the winning goal. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 8. This was the Frenchman’s best performance in a red shirt. He was strong in the tackle and quick to snuff out danger. His one questionable moment was before the disallowed goal and he was saved by VAR. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was powerful and composed and tried to spark attacks when on the ball. He was rarely in trouble but got dragged a little wide before the goal. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot tried to get forward but his crossing was erratic. His link-up play on the left with Diaz did not work as well as usual. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain worked effectively in midfield and tried to move the ball quickly when in possession. He was withdrawn for Keita in the 77th minute as Liverpool chased a goal. EPA -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian stamped his authority on the midfield early on and ensured his team were on top for most of the game. He did not contribute much going forward. AFP -
Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 31-year-old was an injury worry before the game and did not look quite right even though his passing was neat. He was replaced by Firmino with 13 minutes to go. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was marginalised in the first half but threatened after the break. Some of his shots lacked precision but he was unlucky to be foiled by the brilliance of Courtois. Getty -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese hit the post and caused Real some alarm. He was the victim of some rugged defending. EPA -
Luis Diaz - 5. The Colombian had an off night and lost his contest with Carvajal. Jota came on for him in the 65th minute. Getty -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (Diaz 65') - 6. The Portuguese was an upgrade on Diaz but was unable to beat Courtois. He was swamped by a blanket defence. Getty -
Naby Keita (Henderson 77') - 5. He showed for the ball but never looked like turning the match Liverpool’s way. AP -
Roberto Firmino (Thiago 77') - 6. The Brazilian produced some clever touches but they were not enough to change the course of the game. Getty -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 10. One of the great Champions League final performances, the Belgian produced save after save, including six from Salah alone, to guide Real Madrid to victory. Getty -
Dani Carvajal - 8. Had the unenviable task of marking Diaz but stood firm, won his battle with the Colombian, and played a key role in Madrid's clean sheet. AP -
Eder Militao - 8. Won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and both attempted tackles while also making three successful interceptions, the Brazilian was a rock amid relentless Liverpool attacks. AP -
David Alaba - 8. The Austrian was superb alongside Militao, winning four out of five ground duels, making four successful tackles, three interceptions, and three blocked shots. What an incredible free transfer Alaba has turned out to be. Reuters -
Ferland Mendy - 8. Had his hands full defensively against Salah but the Frenchman was excellent on the ball, achieving a 97 per cent passing accuracy and won 100 per cent of his one-on-one duels. AP -
Luka Modric - 7. Played a key role in the build-up to the goal and celebrated the Champions League triumph by announcing he had signed a new contract. A fifth European Cup for the ageless Croatian. Reuters -
Casemiro - 9. Superb from the Brazilian who delivered a vintage defensive midfield display, winning 5/5 aerial duels, 8/11 ground duels, and four tackles, as well as six ball recoveries. Getty -
Toni Kroos - 7. Quiet in the first half but grew into the game after the break, achieving 93 per cent passing accuracy including 100 per cent of his 11 attempted long balls. Getty -
Federico Valverde - 8. Preferred to Rodrygo on the right wing and it proved the right move from Carlo Ancelotti after the Spaniard played the killer pass for Vinicius Jr's winning goal. Beyond the assist, Valverde had a good game. AP -
Karim Benzema - 7. Capped a sensational season by winning a fifth Champions League title. There was to be no final goalscoring heroics but surely Benzema is headed for the Ballon d'Or. EPA -
Vinicius Junior - 9. A constant threat down Madrid's left flank and popped up with the game-winning goal. Vinicius finished the season with 22 goals and 20 assists. Getty -
SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Valverde 85') - N/A. Brought on for the final five minutes to help Madrid over the line. AP -
Dani Ceballos (Modric 90') - N/A. Provided fresh legs for injury time. Getty -
Rodrygo (Vinicius 90'+3) - N/A. AFP
The season was expected to be a transitional one and there were other issues for the Italian. Who knew how long Toni Kroos, Luca Modric, or Karim Benzema, 33, could go on for?
Ancelotti knew better than most and he improved Madrid. They scored more goals, played better football and won more games. The Italian fixed the problems in their defence.
Other pillars of great Madrid sides remained hugely important. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and La Liga’s leading scorer Benzema were their best performers, along with Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior and his compatriot, central defender Eder Militao.
Benzema might be favourite for the Ballon d’Or after his Champions League heroics, but Courtois was the man of the match in the final, the one who attracted the most effusive of Ancelotti’s praise.
“I said to Thibaut before the game – I’ve got you to the final, now it’s time for you to win it,” Ancelotti said. “And that’s what he did.”
Ancelotti become the first man to win the European Cup four times after success with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, and Real in 2014 and now 2022.
Real fans party in Spain
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Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square in downtown Madrid, at the end of the Champions League final victory against Liverpool. AFP -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square. AFP -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square. AFP -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square. AFP -
Real Madrid fans celebrate in Cibeles after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Real Madrid fans celebrate in Cibeles. Reuters -
Real Madrid fans celebrate in Cibeles. Reuters -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate at the end of the Champions League final. AP -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate with a cut-out of striker Karim Benzema. AP -
Real Madrid's supporters celebrate at Cibeles Square in Madrid. EPA -
Real Madrid supporters celebrate their victory over Liverpool. EPA -
Real Madrid's supporters celebrate. EPA
And they did so having overcome Paris Saint-Germain, holders Chelsea, Manchester City and finally Liverpool along the way. Ancelotti’s side needed good fortune, they needed Benzema at one end of his team and Courtois at the other, but Madrid win Champions League finals. It was their fifth in nine years since Ancelotti’s side dramatically beat Atletico in Lisbon in 2014. Madrid have won all five.
Ancelotti didn’t stay at the club after the 2014 win. The Bernabeu managerial fuse is a short one and less than a year after he claimed the tenth European Cup they had tried to win for 12 years, they sacked him.
“Real Madrid always do things which appear to have no logic,” said Diego Forlan, the former Manchester United, Atletico and Inter striker. “That’s what Madrid do. They sack managers when they’ve won the European Cup, they sell some of their best players at their peak. Everyone shakes their heads at Madrid, but everyone pays attention to Madrid at the same time.”
He wasn’t short of offers.
“Ancelotti, is experienced, speaks many languages and he’s wise,” Forlan told The National. “He could settle in most places, he’s a fine coach and he was a success at Madrid, a club who couldn’t get beyond the last eight in the Champions League for eight years including while I was in Spain.”
And now he’s won his fourth European Cup as a manager. Bob Paisley won it three times, Zinedine Zidane also. Ancelotti becomes one of seven men who have been a champion of Europe as a player and a manager. You have to go back six decades to find one where the didn’t have his hands on the European Cup.
After his playing career finished amid too many injuries, Ancelotti did his badges, wrote his coaching thoughts in a paper saying that football needed to be more dynamic, and became assistant to Arrigo Sacchi for the Italian national side between 1992-95. Then he went alone with Serie B Reggiana and led them to promotion before Parma signed him in 1996.
“I loved working with him at Parma,” said Jesper Blomqvist. “I improved as a player under him. I was shocked when he was sacked.”
Juventus hired him. They were considered the best team in the world and he had Antonio Conte, Didier Deschamps, Zidane, Filippo Inzaghi, Zoran Mirkovic, Paulo Montero and Igor Tudor to manage. All became managers and referenced him, yet Juventus sacked him after two seasons and only an Intertoto Cup to show for it.
Milan called and in eight years he made them great again.
“His 2005 Milan side were better than his 2007 one,” says former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher. “Their midfield was the key: Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf and Kaka. I think the secret to their success was Ancelotti changing the system to a midfield diamond to suit the players. He’d been brought up on the 4-4-2 of Arrigo Sacchi.”
But Milan were caught in a storm. The rise of the Premier League knocked Serie A off its perch as football’s richest league, while the 2008 financial crisis hit southern Europe hard including Italian club owners.
High tax rates meant that Italy continued to lose players and managers. Ancelotti went to Chelsea for two years and won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010. PSG followed for two years. They hoped he could help the win the Champions League, but, as has been the trend with their subsequent managers, he managed only Ligue 1.
Then it was that first Madrid spell, before he replaced Guardiola at Bayern and won the Bundesliga in 2017. He took a year out, coached Napoli in 2018-19 and Everton for two years between 2019-21.
Madrid announced their team for the final two hours before they were required to. Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez once said of Real: “Madrid have their system and there are some things I actually envy: their optimism, that cockiness they have that allows them to tell you with absolute conviction: ‘We. Are. Going. To. Beat. You.”
They had that in spades in Europe this season, despite not being considered the best team in Europe. Except officially, they are.
Ahead of the game in Paris, Jurgen Klopp said: “Carlo is one of the most successful managers in the world and he’s a role model in terms of how he deals with success – one of the best people you could ever meet.”
After it, Klopp hugged him and congratulated him, the most successful manager in European football history.
