Carlo Ancelotti is the only manager to win titles in all five of Europe’s top soccer leagues and is now one win away from his fourth Champions League title.
Still, not even Ancelotti is immune from the pressure, especially ahead of the Champions League final.
“For me, the most difficult moment is the 3-4 hours beforehand. It’s a physical discomfort”, said the Madrid strategist ahead of Saturday’s final in a suburb of Paris. “With increased sweating and heart. With negative thinking, but fortunately everything by the time the match starts”.
Few can notice that he suffers like this, if they look at the always calm demeanor of the 62-year-old Italian who is enjoying one of his best seasons.
Ancelotti has been in control from the start after returning to a Madrid team that had endured a lackluster campaign that ended without significant titles under Zinedine Zidane.
Ancelotti quickly put Real Madrid back on the winning path, keeping the defense solid and making the attack work with Karim Benzema and
Vincius Junior. He managed the staff well and came into the final stages of the season in good shape.
The team cruised to the La Liga title by winning the trophy with several games remaining, and won the Spanish Super Cup. The road to the Champions League final was special, with comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
“We have been able to create a good atmosphere in Valdebebas because the relationship is good. The coaching staff has the same percentage as the squad,” he said. “When the workers come here they are happy and when that happens the team is capable of achieving the maximum. It has been a season in which some players have stood out more than others, but the atmosphere was good and those who have played less have not lowered their arms”.
Among those who did not play much were Eden Hazard, Francisco Isco and Gareth Bale, on leave due to injuries and partly due to poor performance.
“Every decision is quite complicated and sometimes to keep everyone motivated you can’t tell the whole truth. This squad has not given me any problems in this sense because everyone has respected the decisions without any problems”, he said.
Ancelotti had been criticized for not rotating his players enough in his first time with the club from 2013 to 2015, when they did not win La Liga but took the Champions League title.
A victory on Saturday would put him in a unique place in European football with four Champions League titles. Only two other technicians have three —
Bob Paisley, who won European crowns with Liverpool in 1977, 1978 and 1981; and Zidane, who won the Champions League with Madrid from 2016 to 2018.