Ancelotti keeps calm amid the storm to make Real Madrid champions again

Real Madrid is champions of Europe for a record-extending 14th time after Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris on Saturday, but rarely have the Spanish champions taken a more chaotic road to glory.

Madrid only made it to the French capital thanks to stirring fightbacks at the Santiago Bernabeu to see off Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and then Manchester City in the knockout rounds.

More madness ensued at the Stade de France, where kick-off was delayed by over half an hour as security problems outside the ground prevented fans from taking their seats.

Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (L) gestures as Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti (C) speaks with Real Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Daniel Cebellos (R) as Moadrid players celebrate after Madrid ‘s victory in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Ancelotti now stands alone as the only manager to win four Champions League titles, surpassing Bob Paisley’s three European Cups with Liverpool and Zinedine Zidane’s hat-trick as Madrid boss between 2016 and 2018.

“I am a record man,” said Ancelotti.

“I’m pleased to have won the Champions League four times, but I am even more thrilled to have come back to Madrid and had such a spectacular season.”

Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti gestures as he celebrates his team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Other coaches would have raged at the officials, but Ancelotti was charismatically