Carlo Ancelotti – the man, the myth, the legend! His name has been synonymous with the Champions League, just as Michael Jordan is with the NBA ring.
It’s a competition he has conquered four times as a manager. After inspiring Milan to two Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007, ‘Carletto’ guided Real Madrid to success in 2014 and 2022. He’s the only manager in football history to win the most prestigious club title in Europe four times.
With the 2023/24 showpiece at Wembley Stadium approaching, the odds on Champions League winners firmly back Ancelotti to lift a record-extending fifth title. His all-conquering Real Madrid side will trade tackles with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in the grand final on June 1 as odds-on favorites to take home the trophy.
Anything other than Madrid’s win would be an epic upset. No side has dominated Europe’s top table as Los Merengues. It’s their 18th appearance in the Champions League title-deciding fixture, and their record is astonishing, with 14 wins from their previous 17 finals accounting for the all-time Europe’s best.
Fresh off dethroning Barcelona in La Liga after only losing once in 36 league matches, Madrid will grace the Wembley pitch in high spirits. With a history of rising to the occasion, Los Blancos have consistently proven their mettle on the biggest stage, and their fans will expect nothing less than another addition to their illustrious trophy cabinet.
It’s all about the man in charge. Ancelotti has developed an aura of invincibility in the Champions League, as evidenced by Madrid’s sterling run in the knockout stages. They’ve already crashed two German sides out of the competition, getting better of RB Leipzig in the round of 16 before pulling off a stunning comeback to oust Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Somewhere in between was an incredible win against the defending champions and Europe’s best team, Manchester City. Despite carrying an outsider tag into that quarter-final tie, Ancelotti’s tactical ingenuity saw Madrid upset the apple cart and send pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad packing. Europe’s most famous eyebrow is ready to strike again.
Standing between Ancelotti and another historic feat is Edin Terzic. He’s the first Borussia Dortmund manager to steer the club into the Champions League final since Jurgen Klopp. But can he avoid Klopp’s fate? It doesn’t look likely, even though Die Borussen left Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in their wake en route to Wembley.
Dortmund supporters would be forgiven for heading to England with trepidation, knowing who’s on the opposite side. It’s none other than the masters themselves. Madrid, coached by Ancelotti, it’s a recipe for success. Very few share the same all-consuming desire to hoist this trophy. They’ve proved as much in this season’s knockouts.
With Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior leading the line and Toni Kross pulling the strings in the midfield, it’s almost impossible to imagine Madrid coming off second-best in this contest. Stranger things have happened, yet when Los Blancos are in the Champions League final, you know the trophy is heading.