Unflappable Ancelotti just refused to blink

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrates with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London. Picture date: Saturday June 1, 2024.

Whereas Dortmund vowed to paint London black and yellow, it was all white on the night for the Real deal.

The longer Saturday’s final at Wembley went without the Germans making their dominance count, the more likely a 15th trophy was heading to Madrid.

That they secured it in second gear was immaterial; what mattered was making their purple patch count after their opponents couldn’t.

Objectivity decrees it was inevitable.

Without this crown since 1997, Dortmund finished fifth in the Bundesliga and had, in Niclas Füllkrug, the oldest player for 20 years to make his German debut when he was capped close to his 30th birthday two years ago.

There was a lack of finesse to his finish when sent clear on 23 minutes - the ball clipping the inside of the post and bobbling across the line.

Real didn’t even have an orthodox No 9 leading their attack, Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Júnior the furthest forward yet primarily deployed wide for the likes of Jude Bellingham to exploit the central space.

The very fact their two late goals came from a corner and defensive gift by Ian Maatsen underlined their methodology is diverse. Kylian Mbappe’s imminent arrival is in keeping with that attacking approach.

Carlo Ancelotti has rightly received the credit for fusing this talented group into Europe's finest but he’d prefer to be lauded as a practical rather than tactical genius.

A manager less experienced and self-assured might have been jolted after being so outplayed in the first half. Midfield was a problem for the departing Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga to control and their ageing defence was caught square three times during a spell when they were mightily fortunate not to concede.

Despite that trend, the Italian refused to blink. An array of options sat behind him on their seats but it wasn’t until four minutes from the end that that he made the first of four; semi-final hero Joselu joining Luka Modric in a double-substitution that roused their end of the stadium. They were by then on easy street, Ancelotti’s persistence with his first XI vindicated.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrates.  Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. 

“We lost the momentum of the game from a set-piece,” bemoaned Edin Terzic, the Dortmund boss, referring to Dani Carvajal belying his 5’8” stature to rise unattended in the box to glance a pinpoint Kroos corner past Gregor Kobel.

“Madrid showed why they are champions of this competition with their quality. We had good chances in the first half, like Madrid in the second, but we didn’t take them.” 

A full 90 minutes following the presentation, after the stadium was emptied, the victorious party was still on the pitch celebrating with their families.

Kroos is departing the stage at 34, this fifth Champions League medal with Madrid complementing the first he won in 2013 with Bayern Munich – also at Wembley against Dortmund.

Simultaneously, Ancelotti was inside the press conference room suggesting the German could be persuaded to stick around.

Uefa protocol, as the FAI repeatedly relay, restricts managerial interviews to top-table format outside of rights holders but Don Carlo operates to his own rules and pace.

This was his fifth European title as manager and he obliged local press by stopping for a chat while security were anticipating his exit. That gold medal worn like an extra layer to his three-piece.

All he was missing while simplifying the winning formula was a cigar. “It wasn't difficult to manage this squad this season,' said Ancelotti, who returned to the Bernabéu in 2021 after patchy stints at Bayern, Napoli and Everton.

“They don't have egos and are really humble. Yes, Dortmund were the better team in the first half but finals can be like that.

“I scolded him (Vinicius Júnior) a little at half-time because we were a little lazy. We lost battles that we don’t normally.

“I didn’t need to get angry, only to clarity a few things because it was pretty clear Dortmund wanted to play on the transition.” 

That word will apply to the German club’s squad too. Terzic was unsure about Jadon Sancho’s future, other than predicting more final appearances for the winger they reclaimed on a loan spell from Manchester United.

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus (left) and Jadon Sancho react after losing the final. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. 

“It was an emotional time in the dressing-room because some players are leaving the club,” he said about the various post-match feelings, uppermost regret.

“We had 100,000 fans travel to London and they shared our belief about beating Real Madrid. This is a setback but just another chapter along our pathway to success.

“This is the final time for this group to spend time together in boots. It’s difficult to explain our feelings; the right words will probably come in the coming days.” 

Dortmund’s bruises from being turned over by ruthless Real will linger for longer.