Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said: The best advice he can give his players as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final is to enjoy the moment.
As he approaches the Champions League final for the eighth time, his sixth as a coach, and his third with Real Madrid, which is seeking to enhance its record by winning its 15th title and its sixth in ten years, Ancelotti (64 years old) believes that his players have the necessary experience to adapt to these feelings.
“It’s a week to enjoy,” the Italian coach said in a press conference. Challenge and competition… We will enjoy it until Friday. Reaching the final is always a success.” He added: “We have great confidence. As for us being favorites to win the title, we are not thinking about that. We have to play against a team that did very well to eliminate PSG… Atletico Madrid. They have shown great commitment.”
Ancelotti is famous for his calmness and tactical savvy. He is one of the most successful coaches in the world and the first coach to win titles in each of the five major European domestic tournaments.
When he returned to Real Madrid for a second period in 2021 after the departure of Zinedine Zidane, he knew that his only mission was to increase the number of club titles.
After winning the Champions League twice as coach of Milan and with Real Madrid in 2014, the tenth title for the Spanish club before his dismissal 12 months later, Ancelotti led the Spanish giant to its 14th title in 2022.
He eliminated Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to reach the final in Paris when he won 1-0 over Liverpool.
After winning the Spanish League title four rounds before the end of the season, Ancelotti was able to rest the players. The Italian coach said, “The preparation for the big match is always the same, and the excitement is to be the champion in the most important match of the season.”
He added: This is my ninth final, three as a player and six as a coach. It’s always the same week: happy, then anxious. The fear will come, but before it happens, I will enjoy it. “The anxiety will start on Saturday afternoon,” he said. It’s completely normal and comes up every game and I have experience dealing with this. I have great confidence in my team. “They are in Champions League mode.”
Ancelotti reserved his opinion about the team’s goalkeeper in the final match at Wembley Stadium. Thibaut Courtois started four matches since his return from a serious knee injury, but Andriy Lunin was Real Madrid’s hero when he beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the semi-finals.
“Both of them deserve to play in the final,” Ancelotti said. Lunin gave an amazing performance and Courtois, we all know how good he is.”