At the Stade de France
14 Champions Leagues, 8 victories in their last 8 finals… Real Madrid more than ever deserve their title of “biggest club in the world”. Given for “deaths” four times (in the 8th against PSG, in the quarters against Chelsea then in the semis against City), dominated for a large part of the final by Liverpool on Saturday, the Merengues are unique in their ability to overthrow mountains. “Nobody thought we could win it,” admitted Carlo Ancelotti after the triumph of Saint-Denis, his fourth as coach (two with Milan, two with Real). But what does this special club have to never give up and force its destiny? “It’s easier to win the Champions League with Real than with another team, thanks to its history, the passion of its supporters and the structure of the club,” explained the Italian coach. “From the round of 16 until today, we suffered a lot. But we never plunged morally, admires Ancelotti. While preparing for this match, I never saw any nervousness in the locker room. This incredible confidence comes from the history of the club. Unique.
When he arrives in the auditorium of the Stade de France at almost one o’clock in the morning, wearing the t-shirt created for the occasion by Real Madrid and the winning of the 14th C1, Carlo Ancelotti barely gives the impression of to have won the most beautiful club title possible. It must be said that the Italian technician, 62, has just brought his total to four C1 as a coach (2 with AC Milan, 2 with Real Madrid) and has seen others throughout his career. career. Whether in English, Italian or Spanish, the Madrid technician takes the time to answer questions, relaxed, smiling, eyebrows raised and happy with the work done. Without adding either, especially not the style of the house. Marked with respect for Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp, the evening beaters. High class.
If football remains above all a collective sport, one man alone symbolizes this new conquest of Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper simply disgusted the entire Liverpool team with endless stops (16th, 18th, 19th, 33rd, 55th, 64th, 69th, 80th, 81st, 83rd) ahead of Salah, Mané, Jota or Arnold again. An impassable rampart and above all the savior of a Real sometimes in distress but still alive thanks to him. A match that will certainly make him a legend in the Champions League and the biggest club in the world. At 30, the Belgian largely deserves his first C1.
More than one coach would have expedited current affairs by shortening the discussion, in the desire to put an end to the media exercise and the many questions as quickly as possible. With only one idea in mind, cut the microphones and leave the Stade de France as quickly as possible. Jürgen Klopp is not of this caliber. The German technician from Liverpool is even quite the opposite. Calm, composed, handsome player, he even sometimes made humor in press conferences despite the defeat of his team in the final against Real Madrid. This is also how you recognize a professional. And above all an example for coaches or players who do not come close to him in terms of prize list, charisma and skill, but who take themselves for what they are not.
Impossible to ignore the grotesque and shameful spectacle glimpsed outside the grounds on Saturday evening. If the Ministry of the Interior has already targeted its culprits, in this case English supporters without tickets, it is going a bit too quickly. Time will bring its share of answers, but the many young people present before, during and after the match around the stadium or even inside, without tickets, have also made matters worse. Add to that an outdated mode of filtering and an organization on the nerves, all giving a pathetic image of France in Europe. SHAME.
