Carlo Ancelotti Reveals Why Liverpool Were Easier to Beat Than Man City, Chelsea, and PSG

Carlo Ancelotti remarked that Liverpool was easier to decipher  than Manchester City, PSG, and Chelsea as Real Madrid were crowned European champions for the fourth time.

Los Blancos won their 14th Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in Paris.

Real’s path to the final was not smooth. They had to come back from defeat three times in knockout games against Premier League champions City, Ligue 1 champions PSG, and previous holders Chelsea.

Given the squad’s skill and depth, many considered Liverpool to be heavy favourites heading into the final.

Ancelotti, on the other hand, found it simpler to outsmart the Reds than Madrid’s previous opponents, with Vinicius Jnr’s second-half score proving decisive.

The Italian said: “Looking back, people said oh PSG were unlucky, Chelsea were unlucky, Manchester City were unlucky, this was practically the only game where people thought we were more or less on the same level.

“I think it helped that Liverpool were easier to decipher than the others because they have a very clear identity and we could prepare the way that we did.

“We knew what strategy to take, don’t give them space behind the defence to run into.

“Perhaps our football wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful tonight on an aesthetic level, but playing out from the back to incentivise their pressing wasn’t a great idea.

“We had a few more long balls, then when their press in our half of the pitch lessened, we got to control the ball more especially in the second half.”

Ancelotti has now won the European Cup four times in his managerial career, the most in history.

On the feat, he told BT Sport in jest: “I am the record man! I had the luck to come here last year, and to have a fantastic season.

“I found, as usual, a fantastic club and a really good squad, with a lot of quality and a strong mental character. I think this season was top.

“I cannot believe it. I think that we had a fantastic season, and we did really well. It was a difficult game.

“We suffered a lot, more at the start, [we were] better second half. I think in the end, with all the games that we played, we deserved to win this competition.

“I think that we passed through a really difficult game every game, the supporters helped us a lot, in the last game [a 6-5 aggregate semi-final win over Manchester City] and tonight.

“We are really happy, honestly, what can I say? I cannot say more.”