Before we get into that, let's take a look at a thought-provoking statistic – a survey launched by Sportmediaset in the aftermath of the Champions League clash that is making a big splash: Has Carlo Ancelotti been crowned the preeminent mentor of time? Between the concise "yes" and "no" options, "yes" came out on top with an overwhelming 86% support, signaling the unmistakable recognition in the public's mind: Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Champions League five times, has been crowned the king of football.
Instead, the focus is on Arrigo Sacchi's insights, who were full of praise after Real Madrid's spectacular 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Champions League final night. On a star-studded Saturday night, Los Blancos took their European title tally to a legendary 15th with a decisive victory at Wembley Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti, the immortal engraver in the annals of football, has further cemented his status as one of the most accomplished coaches of all time with his fifth Champions League trophy. Just three years ago, he was in front of Everton's tactical board, and since returning to the helm of Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, the tactician has not only proven his mastery at the top level, but has also won two La Liga titles and two Champions League gold cups to write a new chapter in his coaching career.
In an article written for Sport Milano, Sacchi shared his pride in Carlo Ancelotti's achievements at Real Madrid and analysed his performance in the Champions League final in detail.
"Real Madrid is still at the top of Europe. Despite the challenges in the first half, their feats were remarkable. Carlo Ancelotti, my Carletto, will always be the protagonist, this is his fifth time as coach to win the Champions League, twice in Milan and three in Madrid. No one beats it.
"The reason is simple: Carlo Ancelotti is extraordinary and experienced, and his knowledge of football goes deep into his bones, down to the tiniest details. Above all, he is a man who can win the hearts of players, management and fans.
"He owes a lot of credit to this success, because today Real Madrid is a team that knows how to fight, they don't give up easily, they face the game with courage and determination, and at the same time respect their opponents.
Carletto passed on these values to an environment that sometimes seemed conceited, because the glory of the past made them think very highly of themselves.
"Now, whether it's the youngest Vinicius or the oldest Kroos, they have shown a commendable spirit in every fight.
'In the first half we saw the immaturity of Borussia Dortmund, a team that is not used to such a stage. The Germans launched a counter-attack, with six players in yellow jerseys against three players from Real Madrid.
'They failed to take their chances and it was reasonable to bow to Madrid's quality and rank. It's not a visually flashy match, but the final is rarely.
'In the first half, I was very impressed with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who proved himself to be a giant after a season of injuries and a couple of warm-up games, and when the German approached him dangerously, he put the team on their feet. Then there's Vinicius, who is amazing!
"He's running around the pitch like a scooter, dribbling, he's calm in front of goal. The young man has grown a lot over the last few years and proves the value of Ancelotti's work.
"The Brazilian has talent, but Carlo Ancelotti knows how to nurture that talent, help him mature and give him the intelligence he needs to become a champion. Did you see how they ran in the last few minutes and how they tried to get the ball back instead of simply handing it over to the Germans?
"It shows that their strong team spirit, combined with the Spaniard's natural drive and playing spirit, is one of the key factors in success.
"I can't put Ancelotti into words. He surprised me every time. He's shown enviable calm, even though I know he's excited inside, he's eager to play, and before the game, he's nervous.
'He always knows how to solve problems, how to get the best out of the players. He humbly listened to the advice of his collaborators, especially his son Davide, which became increasingly important to him.
'He is very aware of the threat from Borussia Dortmund because they have a lot of physical energy, especially at the beginning of the game, they will give it their all. Carlo Ancelotti has the ability to explain this to his team and convince them to remain humble: let's wait for the right moment and then attack.
"That's the way it is, after Carvajal scored, the game was over. Again, I would like to stress that this is also a full recognition of Real Madrid's performance in the game. Carleto puts the doubles trophy in the trophy cabinet, La Liga and the Champions League. No one has been more successful than Carlo Ancelotti. ”