Chelsea will be hoping to return to the elite as soon as possible after watching the drama unfold in the Champions League.
On Wednesday night, Real Madrid scored two late goals to knock Bayern Munich out of the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Two ex-Chelsea managers – Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel – were in either dugout and their teams provided the drama right till the very end.
Harry Kane’s wait for a trophy goes on, after his transfer from Tottenham, but it’s delight for Jude Bellingham and his Real Madrid team, who will meet Jadon Sancho’s Borussia Dortmund at Wembley for the final on June 1.
Ancelotti is a serial winner in this competition and has become the first man to reach six European Cup finals – he was the first man to reach five.
Once upon a time, he was winning the double in the colours of Chelsea and he was one of the many success stories under Roman Abramovich.
And if Real Madrid triumphs at Wembley, then it will be the Italian’s fifth European Cup win – no one has ever won more.
Thierry Henry lauded Ancelotti and how he ‘doesn’t force you to do stuff, he convinces you to do it’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (08/05/24 at 10:05 pm).
The former striker, who worked under Ancelotti at Juventus, added that ‘wherever he went, you don’t hear anyone say bad stuff’ and he namechecked his time at Chelsea.
Carlo Ancelotti helps Real Madrid reach Champions League final
“I am not surprised anymore that they do that,” said Henry about Real Madrid’s win. “I have seen it so many times. I have played against them in Spain. As long as the ref doesn’t blow the whistle, you play until the ref blows the whistle, even if you are 4-0 up.
“You have people that are made to manage big teams. You have some people that are made to manage young players and forced them to do something. Ancelotti doesn’t force you to do stuff. He convinces you to do stuff. That’s a different ball game. He speaks to you. He speaks to your brain and allows you to go on the field, within his structure, to play and be active in that structure. Obviously, he has rules that you need to do. But he doesn’t try to take control of what type of player you can be. That’s vital
“He’s a great guy and a great human being too. He is one of the only coaches, I will be honest and we have said so many times, wherever he went, you don’t hear anyone say bad stuff about Ancelotti. He often see players sad when he leaves. You see players going to celebrate with him. I am sure you remember the Chelsea boys. There is no smoke without fire. This guy is special. He went back to Madrid and on the verge of winning another.”
Carlo Ancelotti – the greatest-ever?
If you are one of the greats of the game as a player, then you are very blessed and there are many you can name.
If you are one of the greats of the game as a manager, then once again, you are very blessed and there are many to pick from over the years.
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But to be a legend as a player and a manager is very rare. Only very few can fall into that category and Ancelotti is one of them,
When he decides to call it a day, he will no doubt go down as one of the greatest-ever coaches of all time.