Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 14:30• Shane Jebbink • Last update: 14:31

Carlo Ancelotti opposes BT Sport elated about the upcoming Champions League final against Liverpool. Real Madrid secured a ticket to the prestigious final battle in the billion-dollar ball on Wednesday evening by beating Manchester City with a wonderful comeback (3-1, 6-5 over two games). Ancelotti is looking forward to the challenge and is already stoking the fire.

The Real coach is looking forward to meeting Liverpool on May 28. “I am very happy to be in a final again, it will be a huge challenge and a great game for football,” Ancelotti beams. The Italian is already stoking the fire towards the titanic battle in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. “We are playing against a great team. I’ve lived in Liverpool for two years so it feels a bit like a derby to me. But I’m still a Evertonian”, the coach who worked for the Liverpool rival until last season made clear.

Real looked to be headed for elimination as Riyad Mahrez put Manchester City ahead at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, due to two late goals from Rodrygo, the Madrilenians narrowly forced an extension. “We had the psychological advantage after we equalized. That way we could finish it in extra time,” explains Ancelotti. The trainer of the brand new Spanish champion has never had the idea that the match was already lost. “I don’t have time to think about that at the moment. Of course we struggled, City seemed to be in control of the game. But with the last chances we were able to force extra time.”

How Real managed to come back from behind is difficult for Ancelotti to explain. “It’s hard to say how we did this. We are the club with the greatest history, maybe that helped us to keep going.” The ‘magic’ of Real’s home port also plays a role, according to Ancelotti. “That is certainly important, it looked bad but we could still find energy somewhere to continue.” Ancelotti could become the first coach in the history of the tournament to hold the trophy up four times if he wins the Champions League. He previously did that with AC Milan (2003 and 2007) and in his previous period with Real Madrid (2014).