Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti thinks last season was the best of his illustrious career after celebrating success in LaLiga and the Champions League.
In a somewhat unexpected decision, Ancelotti was chosen in June 2021 to succeed Zinedine Zidane.
Despite only guiding the Premier League team to 12th and 10th-place finishes in his 18 months at Goodison Park, the Italian seems content with life at Everton.
Ancelotti was a popular figure with fans and players alike during his initial spell at Santiago Bernabeu.
He Took Madrid to ‘La Decima’ – their tenth Champions League title – in 2014.
However, he was fired in 2015 after Los Blancos placed second in LaLiga and lost in the semifinals of the Champions League.
LaLiga’s success had eluded Ancelotti despite his victories in every other significant European league up to his return to Madrid, who easily won Spain’s premier division last season.
Ancelotti became the first coach in history to win the Champions League four times with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at the Stade de France at the end of May. (twice with Milan, twice with Madrid).
Ahead of the Super Cup game against Frankfurt, Ancelotti reflected on last season as his best as a coach.
He told a news conference:
“I think so; it was the best I had in my career. Unfortunately, I was never able to win the league and Champions League [double].
“My players were able to reach this through a fantastic combination – spirit, attitude, quality, experience and enthusiasm of the youngsters.
“For all these reasons we were able to beat strong teams.”
Asked what Madrid’s goals are heading into this season, Ancelotti replied:
“We’re going to battle on all fronts in every competition, and I have no doubts about that.
“I am confident in all of the players here, considering last year, I think the squad has improved further.”
Madrid have brought in Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco.
But neither of their new signings will start on Wednesday against Frankfurt.
With Ancelotti revealed, the same team that lined up against Liverpool in Paris will take to the field.
Ancelotti said:
“We are here down to the hard work of the players who won the Champions League.
“We didn’t just win with 11 players who are going to start tomorrow, of course there are others who deserve to play, but we can only start 11, and I’m going to play the team that started in Paris.”
With a smile and trademark lift of an eyebrow, he quipped:
“I think the two players who are next to me are going to start, if they want to!”
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