Italian media celebrate Carlo Ancelotti’s latest achievement as the Italian coach reached a Champions League Final for the sixth time: ‘He even forced us to support Everton,’ wrote Il Corriere dello Sport.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport, and Il Corriere dello Sport praised Ancelotti on Monday after Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals, which allowed the Merengues to qualify for a Final for the second time in three years.
La Gazzetta dello Sport rated Ancelotti 7/10 but admitted the Italian tactician was also a bit lucky last night.
“He did it again,” wrote Alex Frosio.
“With Real Madrid’s mystic and DNA, but also with Carletto’s luck. Before Joselu’s miracle, Madrid had still created more than Bayern, proving they also knew how to attack.”
Il Corriere dello Sport editor Ivan Zazzaroni wrote a lengthy editorial explaining why Italians love Ancelotti so much and saying that fans in the Peninsula supported their compatriot every time he joined a foreign club.
“Thank you, Carlo, because, to us, you are football, the one we love. Thanks for existing (and resisting). You are the only one able to involve us from afar, even forcing us to support Everton. I admit, with Madrid, it’s much easier,” the journalist wrote.
Corriere dello Sport reported Ancelotti’s key stats as a coach: 793 wins, 297 draws and 244 defeats, plus 42 trophies in his career, 28 as a coach. At Real Madrid, he’s won 206 games from 284 winning the Champions League twice.
“He is in the final again with a style that can’t be labelled. Carlo has the ability to offer football fans the complexity and the amazement of something that no longer has secrets for him,” continued Zazzaroni.
“I imagine him celebrating while he lights up a cigarette, explaining the key of his latest victory, as he did in Paris two years ago: ‘The goalkeeper made saves and the striker scored.'”
The journalist revealed that Ancelotti had joked with him after a victory on penalties against Manchester City in the previous round. “‘We forced them inside our box,” said the Italian tactician.
“Ancelotti makes everything simpler and more genuine, and the video of him signing with Madrid fans after the Bayern Munich clash is the nicest image representing Carletto’s spontaneity,” concluded Zazzaroni.
Below are the front pages of Italian sports papers celebrating Ancelotti’s latest achievement.
