Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian led Real Madrid to a sixth UEFA Champions League title in 11 years and 15th in total with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior proved the difference on a dramatic night in the English capital. The win means Ancelotti has now won the Champions League five times as a manager.
Jose Mourinho heaped praise on “proper coach” Carlo Ancelotti after the veteran Italian manager guided Real Madrid to a 15th UEFA Champions League triumph on a dramatic night at Wembley.
Los Blancos were on the back foot for large periods of the game against Borussia Dortmund but did what they do best to produce the goods when it mattered most and once again land the greatest prize in club football.
“He’s not a social media coach, he’s a proper coach,” Mourinho said on TNT Sports. “He comes from the meritocracy. Go to his office and see how many medals.”
Dortmund were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal, particularly in the first half. Karim Adeyemi was clean through but overhit his touch when trying to round Thibaut Courtois before Niclas Fullkrug hit the inside of the post minutes later.
Fullkrug then had a stinging header well saved in the second half before Los Blancos broke the deadlock against the run of play when Dani Carvajal scored from a corner in the 74th minute.
It went from bad to worse nine minutes later when Ian Maatsen’s sloppy pass across the back was intercepted by Jude Bellingham, with the Englishman laying it on a plate for Vinicius Junior to make it 2-0.
It capped off an incredible run to the title, which included wins over Manchester City and Bayern Munich as Ancelotti clinched his fifth Champions League as a manager.
“This is Real Madrid, they can be humble,” Mourinho added. “Sometimes it can be hard for the big clubs to have that humbleness.
“When they played against Man City, to beat them they had to change the philosophy. Ask Real Madrid fans if they were happy to change their philosophy.
“They don’t sell philosophy, they put cups in the office.”
Rio Ferdinand echoed Mourinho’s sentiments, admitting it is refreshing to see his old-school approach continue to bear fruit.
“Don Carlo, that’s the only way you can take about him now,” Ferdinand said. “That humility comes from him. He’s the guy that guides this team and makes them feel comfortable to take a backwards step.
“We see so many teams nowadays and it’s about controlling the ball and the game, he has that humility to say that we may have to win this game a different way and this team are capable of doing that.
“You’ve got to be able to manoeuvre your game plan and he does that, he doesn’t panic. That’s the big word.
“They ride those waves and because of the quality they’ve got at the top of the pitch, the back players and the midfielders can feel comfortable soaking the pressure up and then bang!”
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