Ancelotti fears Real Madrid’s ‘most dangerous’ game against Dortmund

On the night before Real Madrid battled Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final, Carlo Ancelotti expressed that it was the riskiest game of the season. Despite being heavily favored to secure their sixth European Cup in 10 years and 15th in history, Ancelotti emphasized that they must remain vigilant.

The coach from Italy disagreed that the competition was a fixation for the club. He accepted that there would be apprehension ahead of the game and declared that their efforts should be labeled as "having succeeded, no matter the outcome" at Wembley. "Our goal is to strive for excellence, as we have done throughout the season. However, sometimes things don't go according to plan," he stated.

Ancelotti is set to make his eighth appearance in a European Cup final, having participated in six games as a coach and two as a player. He has confirmed that Thibaut Courtois will be the starting goalkeeper. Despite having been out of the competition since August due to a torn cruciate ligament, the Belgian is expected to be picked over Andriy Lunin. Any reservations about his selection were resolved when the Ukrainian fell ill and had to be isolated from the team. Lunin is scheduled to arrive in London on Saturday, but Ancelotti has stated that he will be on the bench.

Madrid has managed to win the last 8 European Cup finals they've participated in, starting from their match against Liverpool in 1981. None of those encounters has ever seen them being viewed as favorites as much as this one.

After winning against Manchester City and Bayern Munich, they are now up against unexpected finalists who were considered to be the weakest among the eight quarter-finalists in Spain. Even though Ancelotti and his team have expressed feeling confident and calm, they have emphasized the importance of not getting overconfident or complacent. They are fully aware of the possibility of feeling nervous during this crucial match.

Ancelotti made a jest by telling Joselu, who scored two sensational late goals to secure the team's victory in the semi-finals, "It's entirely your responsibility that we're not enjoying our vacation." However, he added a more serious tone, stating, "The final is the most crucial match but equally the most perilous. While you relish being in the moment, there is always a concern that a mishap may arise."

You sense that you're on the brink of achieving something incredibly important in the world of football. However, the thought of it slipping away from your grasp fills you with dread. This feeling is not unique to you but is rather something that every individual experiences. The journey to reach this level is fraught with challenges, and as a result, success feels tantalizingly near yet at the same time far away. The fear of not being able to cross the finish line is a natural response and one that will persist throughout the night, tomorrow morning, and even tomorrow afternoon. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious and apprehensive. Yet, when you manage to overcome these fears and emerge victorious, the euphoria intensifies even more.

Luka Modric, who was seated next to Ancelotti, remarked that everything that had been said was ideal, and then went on to attend Madrid's final training session on the Wembley pitch.

Modric, the captain of Madrid, along with Nacho Fernández, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos are on the verge of achieving a landmark record of six European Cup wins. However, they are not taking this achievement for granted and are following Ancelotti's advice by not considering themselves invincible. Even though they have had a strong performance in the competition, they remain humble and driven to keep improving.

When Nacho was asked about the level of calmness his team feels prior to games, he expressed that this particular game was not the most relaxed one of the season. He mentioned that there are more nerves involved due to the significance of the game, which is a final. He believes that as people, it is natural to feel uneasy during such a special event. Additionally, he acknowledged that Madrid is highly regarded in this competition as the statistics demonstrate. As a result, the team feels a great responsibility to perform well and hopefully come out on top.

Modric and Nacho were asked if they would remain relaxed even if they were losing in the 85th minute. This suggestion may have seemed foolish if it weren't for the fact that two Real Madrid players were present, who have a remarkable talent for making a comeback in the later stages of a match.

Nacho stated that although it may not appear so, they experience hardship whilst playing and would prefer to be in the front.

Modric expressed that reaching the level of Gento, a legendary player, was once unimaginable but now they have achieved it and are thrilled about it. They hope to further advance as a team and achieve the remarkable milestone of having six European Cups.