Carlo Ancelotti explains why Liverpool were ‘easier to decipher’ tactically than other Champions League rivals, how he bluffed Florentino Perez at Real Madrid and a secret gift Jurgen Klopp gave him while he was at Everton.
The Merengues won the Champions League Final 1-0 in Paris this evening thanks to a Vinicius strike and a series of remarkable Thibaut Courtois saves.
“I am happy. I don’t really think about that, I just focus on us reaching the end of a difficult but deserved campaign thanks to the heart of this squad, their concentration and experience. I think that’s why we won,” Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia.
He jokingly summed up the 90 minutes in Paris.
“Vinicius scored a goal, Courtois made saves, end of story!”
The coach explained his tactical approach to the game and neutralising Klopp’s all-attack Liverpool.
“I think Liverpool were strong, but if you keep a high defence and give them room to attack behind you, that’s where you struggle, so our defenders did well to close those spaces.”
Real Madrid have won this tournament for the 14th time, yet they were considered underdogs going into practically every knockout round this season.
“Looking back, people said oh PSG were unlucky, Chelsea were unlucky, Manchester City were unlucky, this was practically the only game where people thought we were more or less on the same level,” smiled Ancelotti.
“I think it helped that Liverpool were easier to decipher than the others, because they have a very clear identity and we could prepare the way that we did. We knew what strategy to take, don’t give them space behind the defence to run into.
“Perhaps our football wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful tonight on an aesthetic level, but playing out from the back to incentivise their pressing wasn’t a great idea.
“We had a few more long balls, then when their press in our half of the pitch lessened, we got to control the ball more especially in the second half.”
Karim Benzema has never been so effective and yet it was Vinicius who got the winning goal, so there is a real union of generations.
“Aside from the quality, we created a great mix between younger players and veterans, the experience and enthusiasm, that was one of the keys to our success.”
Ancelotti’s son Davide is his assistant manager at Real Madrid and it is extremely unusual to experience these victories with family.
“That is special, one of the greatest things that can happen when you work with your son.”
Florentino Perez was present in Paris and Ancelotti revealed what he had told the Real Madrid President, even if it was a bluff.
“That when we lost on March 20 against Barcelona, I reassured him and said don’t worry, we’ll win the Champions League and Liga. I just thought it was the right thing to say…” he shrugged with a laugh.
Klopp intercepted the interview to hug Ancelotti and they whispered something to each other.
“He gave me a gift last season when I was at Everton. I can’t tell you what it was, but I still have it.”
Klopp appeared to say: “Do you still have my machine?”
Ancelotti: “Forse non è stata una gara straordinaria ma non potevamo rischiare il loro pressing” https://t.co/YzpbKNaNJu
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) May 28, 2022
Ancelotti’s response sums up his ‘tactical’ approach to football! He has a way of managing star players because he lets them, guys like Benzema and Courtois, do their thing! This game could have been 3-2 or 4-3, for either side (!), on a different day!
But I was rooting for Madrid, and they pulled it off, to hopefully shut up the smug English press (and fans) even if only for a few weeks.
Great Madrid.
It’s funny Ben’s 1st half goal not allowed whereas 2nd half offside centering be the winner hahaha lol
How could it have been 3-2 or 4-3 when Real had only 2 shots on goal? I was cheering Madrid too but it’s hardly tactical genius to have 24 shots on target from the opposition and have Courtois perform miracles. Ancelotti has the magic lamp and maybe 1 wish remaining. Congrats to him all the same.
Biukruqul, Luigi said on another day the score could’ve been 3-2 or 4-3. Beside I never saw an English side won a UCL without luck, in fact very very lucky to win so about time luck was against them.
Why don carlo never bring young italian talent while coaching top foreign teams? I doubt he has sense of patriotism
@Indonesian italian… Ancelotti never brings young Italian talents doesn’t have anything to do with his patriotism. You and i never really know about one sense of patriotism, and never should judge people about it too. It’s all come down to a technical aspects. Besides, there are many things to consider, especially what really happened behind close doors… which we don’t really know in detail.
Bring young Italians and play them only because of their Nationality is the beginning of your career-suicide