Real Madrid are dreaming of their 15th Champions League title in the club’s history. Carlo Ancelotti is already experiencing his sixth final as coach – and also had an answer to Bayern’s refereeing criticism on Wednesday evening
It was the scene that everyone was talking about afterwards. Referee Szymon Marciniak had whistled away Bayern’s supposed equalizer deep into stoppage time, and it wasn’t just coach Thomas Tuchel who was outraged.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti assessed the scene with Italian composure. “The referee whistles and we stop playing,” explained the 64-year-old, adding: “Maybe it wasn’t offside.” In a way, however, “Carletto” saw something like “equalizing justice”. Because: “Bayern are complaining about this goal that wasn’t given and we’re complaining about the other one that wasn’t recognized – because Kimmich also threw himself down.”
Real had supposedly equalized for the first time in the 71st minute. However, captain Nacho had grabbed opponent Joshua Kimmich in the face with both hands, so the whistle was quite rightly blown. A weird comparison by Ancelotti
Perez and his “sailors “
The successful coach, who will be the only coach in the history of the competition to experience his sixth final on the touchline, was much more interested in paying homage to his team anyway. “Something inexplicable has happened again, it’s something magical,” said Ancelotti. “The fans were incredible, the stadium helped and the players didn’t stop believing. “
Real are playing a season “that nobody expected, not even me”. However, Ancelotti does not see himself as the “father” of success. “There is one captain here, Florentino Perez, and everyone else is a sailor,” the former Bayern coach paid homage to the Real president, adding: “He has managed to unite this great generation of players.”
Vinicius Junior, who provoked Manuel Neuer’s blunder and was deservedly named “Player of the Match” by UEFA, also deserved extra praise: “What he did in these two semi-finals is something we don’t often get to see – something not many players are able to do.”
With his inimitable dribbles, the Brazilian had indeed repeatedly caused the Munich backline major problems. His two goals in the first leg ultimately laid the foundations for their return to the Champions League final
