On the pitch at 9pm Borussia Dortmund – Real Madrid LIVE for the Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund – THE CARD
Real Madrid – THE CARD
Carlo Ancelotti
EVE
The most iconic stadium as the setting for the most prestigious final, which Real Madrid is used to playing and winning more than any other team: this is why on the eve of the Wembley match Carlo Ancelotti assures that his team is already in “mode Champions League”. Bad news for Borussia Dortmund, the last remaining obstacle on Los Blancos’ road to continental triumph no. 15.
ANSA Agency Terzic, Dortmund coach-fan with the Champions League dream “You deserve to be here, anything can happen in a final”A palmares that has no equal in Europe: just think that whoever did best among the runners-up won half of the merengues’ cups, reaching their 18th European final. “We enjoyed this week of preparation – assured Ancelotti on the eve -. Having reached the final is always a success. We know we have already done something good this season, now we have to add the icing on the cake”.
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To give even more value to Liga n.36 conquered well in advance. In front of the press Ancelotti appeared relaxed and smiling, even in a mood of irony. “I told Joselu (who scored the two goals that sank Bayern Munich in the final minutes of the semi-final second leg, ed.) that it’s his fault that we’re not on holiday yet.” An addition to the season for which the Italian coach will be able to count on Thibaut Courtois, once again starting due to the flu attack that struck Andriy Lunin. “The two best teams have reached the final, our season is not over yet, while for many other teams it is, and they will watch the match on television.” There are 14 previous matches against Borussia, all played in the Champions League: only three defeats and five draws. The rest, only victories for the Spaniards, even if in the two European semi-finals (1997/98 and 2012/13), the precedents were tied. Impressive, however, is Real’s performance in the final stages, as they have not lost matches of similar value for over 40 years: the last defeat in the European Cup final dates back to 1981, when they were defeated by Liverpool. Six Champions League finals for Ancelotti, as many for Real Madrid in the last decade. “We have all the emotion and optimism in the world. Calm, confidence, positivity. The history of Real Madrid was born in the 1950s with this competition, and it is something special: this is the competition where it is easier to find concentration and reasons”.
With the absences of David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni confirmed, it will be the last for Toni Kroos with a club shirt, before his final farewell at the European Championships with Germany. The German has won four Champions League triumphs, while Jude Bellingham dreams of his first big-eared cup in his national team’s stadium. The Champions League final n.69 coincides with Ancelotti’s bench n.1,324, a long career also full of witticisms: “What’s the difference between today and 10 years ago? I’m 10 years older”. An obviousness that hides the normality of the strong, of those who are used to these occasions: “In the hours before the match there is always worry, fear, but it’s normal, it happens every match. I have my routine which I will follow this time too, nothing special. With a bit of superstition, because I was taught that not having it is bad luck.”
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