Hala Madrid for Los Blancos hero Carlo Ancelotti: ‘I have the luck to be at the best club in the world’

 Sun, Jun 02 2024

Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid lifts the UEFA Champions League Trophy after his team’s victory after the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium Credit: Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Macdara Ferris reports from Wembley

The winners medal hung very comfortably around Carlo Ancelotti’s neck after the game in Wembley. This is a man who with Milan won two European Cups as a player and two more as manager and now he has three wins to his name from his time in charge of Real Madrid.

“This competition has given me fantastic happiness as a player and a manager,” said Ancelotti in the post-match press conference after his side’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. “I have the luck to be at the best club in the world.”

However, the 64-year-old manager admitted that his opponents Borussia Dortmund had made them “feel uncomfortable”, particularly in the first half. It meant a change of system from 4-4-2 to more of a 4-3-3 in the second

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“Dortmund were great in transition. We lost our balance and had to manage their transition better. We lost the ball a lot in their half. They played better than us and had better chances in the first half but they let us away with it as it was only 0-0 at half time.

“We were calm then. I didn’t need to get angry at half-time but I just had to clarify a few things. This squad leaves me very satisfied as we never give up and we always fight to the end.”

In his final game for the club, German Toni Kroos provided the assist for the critical opening goal. His inswinging corner allowed Dani Carvajal to head home. It brought his tally of Champions League Final victories to five.

“I’m really grateful for him,” said Don Carlo about the 34-year-old German. “He has finished at the very top. There is no higher position. He had the balls to finish it.

“He is a legend at this club. His game, his attitude, his professionalism. We said ‘If you change your mind, we will wait for you’.

No sooner than their tally reached 15 European Cups with their ninth victory from their last nine European finals, talk turned to making it ten from ten.

“In this club there is continuous demand. We are never satisfied. That is the way it is. That is football. I’m really happy and content.”

The win in Wembley made it a league and European Cup double after Los Blancos won their 36^th La Liga title this year. “I would rate this season 10 out of 10. My players have been spectacular.”

For player of the match Dani Carvajal, it was also quite the night as he reached the milestone of six Champions League wins and he did so by getting the crucial opening goal of the game.

The smallest player on the pitch rose highest to head home in the 74^th minute to break the deadlock.

When he came into the press conference, he too had his winners medal around his neck and he was wearing a jersey with ‘Champions’ and number 15 on the back.

“This is incredible,” said Carvajal. “I don’t have words for what we have achieved. To win my sixth Champions League is unimaginable.

“I don’t know, it’s something unique as a feeling. I am especially happy to be creating history with Real Madrid.

“Scoring is an amazing feel in a Champions League final. It is a dream day for me. When I heard final whistle I was really emotional. I’m 20 years defending the colours of Real Madrid.”

Carvajal played as cruicial a part as any in winning La Decimoquinta for Real.