Carlo Ancelotti reaches his fifth UEFA Champions League final after Real Madrid knocks out Manchester City in a thriller, the most of any manager in the tournament’s history
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After becoming the first coach to win Europe’s big five leagues, Carlo Ancelotti made history by becoming the first manager to reach five Champions League finals in the competition’s history after Real Madrid defeated Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti has now reached his fifth Champions League final (2003, 2005, and 2007 with AC Milan, 2014 and 2022 with Real Madrid), the most for any manager in the competition’s history.
All hopes of reaching the final seem to be lost for Real Madrid when Riyad Mahrez struck in the 73rd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu to put City 1-0 up on Wednesday and 5-3 on aggregate up in the tie.
However, two goals in the space of 91 seconds from Rodrygo restored parity on aggregate to force extra-time and then up-stepped Karim Benzema to score from the penalty spot to complete one of the Champions League famous comebacks and will face Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League Final. Interestingly, Rodrygo even became the first player to score twice in the 90th minute of a Champions League knockout match.
Carlo Ancelotti’s previous Champions League Final records for and without Real Madrid
2003 – As manager of Milan, he won the final against arch-rivals Juventus on penalties.
2005 – As manager of Milan, he lost to Liverpool after the Reds made a miraculous comeback after having been 0-3 down at one stage. Milan lost the match in the penalty shoot-out.
2007 – As manager of Milan, Ancelotti took his revenge and defeated Liverpool 2-1.
2014 – In his first instinct at Real Madrid, he defeated Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the finals after Sergio Ramos scored the famous header.
Out of the previous four Champions League finals that his team has reached, Ancelotti has lost only one final which was the infamous Instanbul miracle when his star-studded AC Milan side bottled their 3-0 lead against Liverpool and lost on penalties.
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Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)