How modest Carlo Ancelotti exasperated Chelsea in Real Madrid masterclass

Three weekends ago, Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager, made an apology to the club’s supporters that was quickly backed up with a promise.

He said sorry for his poor judgements contributing to a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Barcelona. “These things can happen as a one-off,” Ancelotti added, “but they don’t tend to happen twice with me.”

That’s as close as you will hear to Ancelotti, one of the highest-achieving managers of the 21st century, blowing his own trumpet. Unlike some in his profession, he does not make great boasts about his expertise, but will rather let his long, distinguished career speak for itself.

His three Champions League triumphs, two with AC Milan, one with Madrid, are its peaks. By the end of next month he should also have completed a rare clean sweep of league titles across the five strongest divisions in Europe: He has a Serie A crown, with Milan; a Premier League, with Chelsea; Bundesliga and Ligue 1 gold medals with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. Madrid, who took on Ancelotti for a second time last summer, are currently 12 points clear of Barcelona in La Liga.

He also has Madrid with one foot in the semi-finals of a Champions League in which, going into the last eight, they were not considered among the four strongest teams. Wednesday’s 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge against his old club, Chelsea, the defending European champions, was stunning, and a triumph for the tried-and-tested manager and for the know-how of his senior lieutenants, above all Madrid captain Karim Benzema.

Ancelotti, who was only able to be on the touchline having tested negative for Covid-19 in Madrid on the morning of the match, had been as good as his word. He very seldom makes two misjudgements within a