30 May 2024 , 00:00
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Carlo Ancelotti is the most successful manager in Champions League history.
And yet despite winning the trophy a record-breaking six times as coach and player, there are two finals which still haunt him to this day. Real Madrid boss Ancelotti, 64, was manager of AC Milan when they lost to Liverpool in Istanbul in 2005 in arguably the most dramatic final of all time.
Ancelotti was also part of the Roma squad which lost to Liverpool in the 1984 final, although he missed the game itself through injury. Those two matches are etched in his memory as much as the glory games and as such are his own driving force to push him on towards more success.
The miracle of Istanbul when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half time to win in a shoot-out is a reminder how emotion and drama can be the biggest factor in any final.
Real Madrid have won the trophy a record 14 times and are looking for their 15th while it would be a fifth success as a manager for Ancelotti.
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Ex-Chelsea boss Ancelotti said: “I've felt the greatest emotions in this competition – my greatest positive emotions as well as my greatest negative emotions.
“I can't forget the [1984] final we lost against Liverpool when I was at Roma, nor the other final we lost against Liverpool in 2005 [as coach of Milan]. But there are also many positive memories. Passion certainly prevails, and that's what keeps me going.
Jerzy Dudek's Istanbul save against Andriy Shevchenko is now iconic (Getty Images)“We're really happy to play in yet another final. The nerves will come, but we aim to let them come as late as possible. We have to seize this moment, this huge match, the most beautiful match of the year, and also the most beautiful to experience.”
Ancelotti, with his cool head and calm attitude, is the archetypical man manager in the face of the modern tactician and coach. He is a hugely popular figure among his players as he has built a winning machine at the Bernabeu.
But Ancelotti also insists that he has evolved as a coach and what worked a few years ago would be laughed out of any dressing room today. Ancelotti also stressed the need for teamwork, building a unit and also a balance between youth and experience with the older heads like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos guiding the new generation.
He said: “It is very important to keep learning because life changes and football changes, and it's crucial to keep up-to-date. Relationships with colleagues and exchanging ideas with them is also very important. If I proposed what I used to do 20 years ago as a coach, everyone would take me for a fool because things change, the methods and training change, so you have to keep up with the times.
“The main attribute the team has demonstrated this year is a cohesive attitude, as well as focus and teamwork. In spite of some difficulties early on, it's been an excellent season and the tightness and professionalism of the group got us through all the challenges.
“There is a balance between the older players leading by example and the younger ones with their extremely high quality. This has allowed our club to move through this transitional phase, which we're still in.
Toni Kroos of Real Madrid celebrates with The Champions League trophy (Getty Images)“Nacho really grew up here. He came through the youth team, so he lived through that era. He was not always a first-choice player, but every year he was able to carve out his identity a little bit more until he became the captain. He is a great example of focus and professionalism
“Toni Kroos remains a powerful force, just like Luka Modrić. They are still crucial players in the team, even though, since the young players came in, we perhaps rely on them a little bit less now. Now it's about their quality rather than quantity, and they've both had an excellent season.”
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Ancelotti also paid tribute to Borussia Dortmund and insists their run to the final only goes to prove they will be difficult opponents. He added: “Firstly, they deserve to be in the final because they have put in some great performances in the previous rounds, defeating very strong teams like Atlético de Madrid and Paris.
“They are a very solid and close-knit team with great players. Their defensive display against Paris surprised me.”
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