It's staggering now, but back in February there were reports in Spain that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was toying with the idea of sacking Carlo Ancelotti.
A stunning solo goal from Kylian Mbappe handed Real a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain and, according to Sport, Perez was dismayed the defensive set-up Ancelotti oversaw.
It got worse before it got better in the Champions League. Mbappe scored again in the return leg before Karim Benzema sprang into life, scoring a hat-trick in the second half as PSG wilted.
4 - Carlo Ancelotti
3 - Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane
2 - Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Brian Clough and 13 others
It would be the first result in Europe's elite club competition this season that just gave that feeling that Real's name is on the trophy. Storming comebacks against Chelsea and Manchester City would follow before victory against Liverpool.
Of course, any team needs luck on their side to win the Champions League but if you've also got Ancelotti in your corner, the chances are good that you'll win Europe's major tournament.
Saturday's triumph also took Ancelotti to a tally of four Champions League titles to his name, above Real hero Zinedine Zidane and Liverpool legend Bob Paisley. It was his second with Real after lifting two with AC Milan.
How glad Perez must be that he didn't swing the axe back in February.
'Ancelotti’s best quality is his temperament and I saw it for seven years,' Paul Clement, Ancelotti's No 2 in his first spell at Madrid, told talkSPORT.
'It suits the big clubs because they don’t need anymore pressure. It’s his strength, it's a special part of his character.'
On top of the four Champions League titles,
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