Ancelotti is the key to Champions League glory for Real Madrid
Published:The powers that be at Real Madrid have tried in vain for more than a decade to find the right manager who can finally land them the illusive Champions League trophy, but in Carlo Ancelotti they may just have hit the jackpot.
When Jose Mourinho strolled into the Bernabeu riding the wave of a second Champions League triumph, this time with Inter Milan, it was probably considered an inevitability by Real Madrid’s hierarchy that the cocksure Portuguese manager would soon be landing Los Blancos the 10th European cup they so crave.
Unfortunately for Madridistas everywhere, the closest Mourinho ever got was three consecutive semi-finals, as just like it had at Chelsea, the cup with the big ears remained out of his grasp.
However, by appointing ‘Mr Calm’ himself, in Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s chances of ending their all-consuming quest were seriously boosted, so the time to back them at 9/2 is now.
European failure had been softened somewhat by Mourinho scooping the La Liga crown in his second season, but gradually the Special One managed to alienate himself in Madrid, thanks to a Molotov cocktail of terrible relations with the Spanish press and latterly members of his playing squad.
Mourinho’s summer exit was nailed on after Borussia Dortmund ousted them from last year’s semis, but now they have another double-Champions League winner to take them forth.
At the San Siro, Ancelotti went about constructing one of the best ever AC Milan sides, who went on to dominate the continent by reaching three finals within four seasons, winning it twice.
Ancelotti also brings two more European Cup winners medals from his time playing for Milan and unlike Mourinho, has the personality to appease egos in the dressing room, rather than antagonise them.
Bagging domestic league titles at both Chelsea and PSG highlight this fact perfectly and after an emphatic start to the group stages of this year’s Champions League, the signs are good for Real Madrid in 2013/14.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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