jude victor william bellingham

Champions League Final Most ‘Dangerous’ Game: Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti

Danijones5 months ago06 mins

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti warned his players the Champions League final is the most “dangerous” game in football on the eve of their clash with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. The Italian, who has won the competition as a coach a record four times, said Los Blancos were afraid the trophy could escape them. Madrid, record 14-time winners, are firm favourites for the clash against the Bundesliga side. “A Champions League final is the most important game but also the most dangerous,” Ancelotti told a news conference Friday. “We have to enjoy being here, but knowing it can go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football — winning a Champions League — but having the fear this can escape us. “Things have to go very well, you need to be lucky too, success is very close and so the worry begins tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon.” Real Madrid captain Nacho said he was feeling confident but nervous. “We’ve got more nerves than in any other moment of the season,” admitted Madrid captain Nacho. “We’re humans, it’s a calm week for (some people) but for the players it’s not. It’s special, and that makes it not calm.” Veteran midfielder Luka Modric said despite Madrid’s strength in contrast to Dortmund, he was approaching the match as if it were an even battle. “Everyone thinks we are big favourites, but we don’t think about it like that,” said the Croatian. “It’s 50-50, we’re playing a big team that has had a magnificent season in the Champions League.” Nacho and Modric, along with Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal, would reach six career Champions League wins with a victory over Dortmund, levelling all-time leader and former Madrid great Paco Gento. “It was hard to imagine we’d get to this moment but we are here, very happy and enjoying this moment,” said Modric. “I hope tomorrow we can take this step further, as a team and have six European Cups would be something big.” ‘Something special’ Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and have a remarkable ability to turn games around in Europe when it seems like they are defeated. “We prefer to take the lead if it’s possible,” said Modric. “But we’ve shown many times this year and before, that when things don’t go well we fight until the end. “We always find a way, we’re capable of turning the game around. We keep having this mentality, this commitment and fight, but like I said, we’d prefer to take the lead.” Ancelotti said Madrid’s ability to come back from the dead “has happened so many times it’s not chance”. “It’s something special… it could be the history, the quality, the tradition, the character,” he mused. The coach confirmed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would start the final ahead of Andriy Lunin, resolving the main selection query ahead of the game. “Lunin had the flu and hasn’t travelled with the team, tomorrow he will travel and will be on the bench — Courtois will play tomorrow,” said Ancelotti. Belgian stopper Courtois returned from a long-term knee injury earlier in May and has kept four clean sheets in four appearances since. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Real Madrid Claim 36th Spanish Title After Girona Stun Barcelona

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

Real Madrid earned what coach Carlo Ancelotti said was a “deserved” La Liga title on Saturday after beating Cadiz 3-0 and Girona sealed it with a stunning 4-2 victory over Barcelona. Ancelotti’s side did their homework by beating Cadiz and after last season’s champions stumbled against Girona, Los Blancos were crowned champions for a record-extending 36th time. Girona’s dramatic victory saw the Catalan minnows qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, in only their fourth season in Spain’s top flight. Ancelotti rotated heavily ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Bayern Munich next week, but his players still got the job done. Brahim Diaz netted in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham, with Joselu tapping home a third. “We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Ancelotti told reporters. “We’ve made few errors and the advantage is deserved.” Madrid’s comfortable win over Cadiz sent them 14 points clear of last season’s champions Barcelona, in third, with only 12 left to play for. Girona, second after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona this season, trail Madrid by 13 points. “We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s,” Madrid striker Joselu told Real Madrid TV. “There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here… and these are special moments.” With the Bayern second leg in mind, Ancelotti only selected captain Nacho Fernandez from the starting line-up that earned a 2-2 draw in Bavaria this week. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started for the first time after a nine-month lay off after a knee injury and kept a clean sheet. Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest player to appear for the club in La Liga, at 38 years and 238 days, breaking late Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas’ record from 1965 by five days. The visitors, 18th and still battling to stay up, shaded the first half but Madrid’s goals came in the second. Courtois made a superb save to deny Chris Ramos early in the second half and Madrid took the lead immediately afterwards. Diaz received from the evergreen Modric on the edge of the area, turned slickly and curled an effort into the top corner. Bellingham, on as a substitute for Turkish teenager Arda Guler, added the second soon after entering the fray at the end of a fine team move. It was the England international’s 18th league goal of the season, keeping him in contention to finish as the top scorer. Madrid put the cherry on their cake after a superb run by Nacho. Poised to depart at the end of the season, the Spaniard was hailed by the Bernabeu after setting up Joselu for a simple finish in stoppage time. ‘Impossible to compete’ Los Blancos were able to celebrate after Girona came from behind twice to defeat Barcelona in a wild clash, moving second. Barca took the lead through Andreas Christensen’s fine volley after three minutes but La Liga’s top scorer Artem Dovbyk levelled with his 20th goal of the campaign just a minute later. Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead with a penalty after Lamine Yamal was felled, but substitute Portu made a huge impact in the second half for Girona. Michel Sanchez’s side netted two goals in two minutes to turn the game on its head. Portu netted the equaliser moments after coming on and then set up Miguel Gutierrez to put Girona ahead. Portu sensationally volleyed home the fourth to ignite Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium and get the party started. “The players have entered Girona’s history books, what we’ve done this year is incredible,” said Sanchez. Girona played Champions League music over the stadium sound system to give their fans a taste of things to come. “I want to play against Liverpool, I want a historic giant here, there are many, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter.” For Barcelona, third, the summer will be for self-reflection rather than dreams. “It’s a shame, we sink with any negative situation,” said Barcelona coach Xavi after Barcelona lost their crown. “Like this it’s impossible to compete.” Elsewhere Rodrigo Riquelme’s early goal earned fourth-place Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Mallorca to extend the gap on Athletic to six points. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article