How Ancelotti masterminded an incredible 14th European Cup for Real Madrid

As Real Madrid brought a 14th European Cup back to the Spanish capital, first to the city’s Almudena Cathedral, then to the Cibeles fountain where they celebrate their trophies before the Bernabeu, the respect for one man was clear.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti may be self-effacing but he enjoys these celebrations. On Saturday in Paris, just after the 1-0 victory over Liverpool, he promised he would sing at the Cibeles and at the stadium with the fans, then he is set to take a summer break in his home on Canada’s west coast.

Sunday’s celebrations followed another after Madrid won La Liga at the start of May, when he was pictured in shades smoking a cigar with the smiling Madrid players.

“No, I don’t smoke cigars,” he said after, just for clarification. “It was only a photo with my friends. Yes these players are my friends.” And how you believe it when you see how he gets by with a little help from his friends.

A year ago, Ancelotti’s Everton side lost their final game of the season 5-0 and finished tenth. It wasn’t seen as a success then, though it looks a little more respectable after their struggles this season just finished.

The 62-year-old walked out of Everton for Madrid – as most would – but they were uncertain times at the Bernabeu. Madrid didn’t lose money during the pandemic like most clubs, but there were expectations in some quarters that they would given the huge cost of redeveloping their stadium.

That, and the loss of key players in recent years from Cristiano Ronaldo to the sidelined Gareth Bale, to defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. The team were in a rebuild phase where they weren’t expected to add to their record 13 European Cups as they welded together a new Madrid of stellar emerging talents like