Unflappable Carlo Ancelotti said he would have a good meal and an hour’s nap before next Saturday’s Champions League final – Real Madrid‘s sixth in ten years .
No coach has won the European Cup more than the four-times triumphant 64-year-old.
Of his match day routine he said: ‘I will have a pre-match meal of broccoli, salmon and pasta. Then I’ll have an hour’s siesta. Then the heart rate goes up before I give the final team-talk but once the game starts it soon goes back to normal.
‘‘I’ll get the cold sweat sometime Saturday afternoon as always, but that happens every game and I’m used to it. I’m going to enjoy it. My players are in Champions League-mode and that gives me confidence.’
Ancelotti could win his fifth European Cup – two more than Pep Guardiola, Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane.
Carlo Ancelotti gave an insight into his preparations for Saturday’s Champions League final
The Italian lifted the European Cup for the fourth time as manager following Real Madrid’s win over Liverpool in Paris in 2022
Of his managerial style he added: ‘I’m not a psychologist but I am experienced. The personal relationship you have with the players is the most important thing.
‘It’s not what you tell them about tactics and technique it’s how you relate to them on a personal level. You need to create a good atmosphere to have a good group.’
Victory for Madrid will also mean Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos pick up their sixth winners’ medal matching Spanish winger Gento who won six in the fifties with Real Madrid.
Kroos will do so in his last club game ever. Of the German, who is set to retire from football after the Euros, Ancelotti added: ‘For Kroos to sign-off by winning the Champions League would be fantastic but he already has his place in the history of football.
‘He’s not going to be more important in Real Madrid’s history if he wins it again but it will be his last game and hopefully he can finish his career by winning it – he deserves it.’
Thibaut Courtois (pictured) has returned in time for the final and is expected to start ahead of stand-in Andriy Lunin
Ancelotti joked about not letting on who would start for Madrid in goal and even spoke about his post final holidays. Thibaut Courtois has returned in time for the final and is expected to start ahead of stand-in Andriy Lunin who has impressed this season.
‘He (Courtois) is the best keeper in the world. But I love the debate around about who is going to play and if I’ll tell you who is going to play then the debate stops,’ he joked.
Asked about the decision defender Nacho has to make regards whether he signs for another season, as Modric is set to do, or leave as Kroos has done, Ancelotti said: ‘The only thing Nacho has said is that after the final we’ll talk. I told him it will have to be by phone because I will be on my holidays!’
