ANCELOTTI NOW ENTERS THE SPECIAL ECHELON OF THE "ELITE COACHING MASTER" WITH THIRD VICTORY IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Italians know how to coach. I think that nobody can argue with that. I appreciate what Ferguson has done and his incredible legacy with United and Mourinho's wizardry that makes him one of the best....but a special thought must be given to a coach who has won the elite club competition THREE times. Oh...and this was his FIRST season with Real Madrid....and he delivered.

The big thing for Ancelotti once he came was stamping his own coaching signature in a team that had been used to playing the MOURINHO way. That meant doing away with the defensive nature, widening the setup and getting the best out of the STARS that were all littered in the team.

It took a few games, but once Real fially clicked, with Bale fully fit and being in sync with the setup...Ancelotti had built a team that COULD win the Champions League.


What Ancelotti did that was most important was getting his star players to have more impactful roles than they had under my boy Mourinho. Modric was now a playmaking central midfielder that could run with the ball. Di Maria was given license to run with the ball, dribble and to show how he could break apart defences...and Bale was given the seal of approval to EXPLOIT the enemy if they were foolish enough to give him space. The Italian from Milan made Madrid a team that functioned, with that bit of flair that went with the players that they had.

The main priority for Ancelotti and why he was brought in was to give Madrid their tenth Champions League title. To expect it in the first season was a bit much, but that would be the objective given to the Italian.

One has to sit back and think for a moment as to what Ancelotti achieved. To win a Champions League in your FIRST season, BEATING the holders so badly that I can hear Pep still sobbing and delivering a BODY BLOW of four goals in the Final is something that is simply quite incredible.

Ancelotti is already going to be heralded as one of THE best coaches. Three Champions League titles, all those Scudetti with AC Milan as well as other honours, is something that he can be proud of and others must commend. Now, I think there is just one last thing to tick off in Ancelotti's CV....the Azzurri awaits and Ancelotti OWES his country the world's GREATEST prize....one day....


HH