Sports FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014

‘Pacifier’ Ancelotti restoring prestige

LISBON: promised a heady mix of spec- tacular football and trophies when he took over at Real Madrid, the holy grail for coaches handed the reins of the world’s richest club by income. Although he has not consistently managed the for- mer in his debut season at the Bernabeu, the Italian is on the verge of delivering the record-extending 10th European crown — that has eluded Real since their last continental triumph in 2002 - to add to this term’s King’s Cup success. Real are through to the Champions League final — where they will play Atletico Madrid on Saturday in the only European showpiece to feature teams from the same city - for the first time since they were crowned European champions in Glasgow 12 years ago. Obsessed with winning what is known as the “la dec- ima” (the tenth), Real president Florentino Perez lured Ancelotti from Paris St Germain following the ignomin- ious exit of Jose Mourinho, three years before the end of his contract, after a season without major silverware. Ancelotti, labelled “the pacifier” in Spanish media, is an entirely different character from the combative Portuguese, who clashed with key players, divided fans and had a testy relationship with journalists. With one quizzical eyebrow almost perpetually raised, Ancelotti deals with even the most brainless of media questions with a gruff charm and has been far more amenable to interviews than Mourinho, who rarely spoke outside his SPAIN: In this picture taken on May 18, 2014, a Real Madrid’s supporter takes a snapshot of a screen displaying the profile obligatory media commitments. of Real Madrid’s player Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal at the museum. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will play in the Perhaps one of Ancelotti’s most impressive achieve- Champions League final tomorrow in Lisbon. — AP ments is the way he has united a dressing room that became bitterly divided under Mourinho. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of several key performers who Atletico all out to outwit clashed with compatriot Mourinho, in particular has thrived under the new regime. The Portugal captain has a chance to add to his record 16 goals for one edition of wealthy neighbors Real the continent’s elite club competition against Atletico in Lisbon. “Ancelotti deserves all the credit,” Ronaldo said LISBON: Atletico Madrid have a chance in tomorrow’s Champions POSITIVE PRESSURE after Real thrashed holders Bayern Munich 4-0 in League final not only to claim their debut European crown but to Cristiano Ronaldo, top scorer in this season’s competition with Germany last month to secure their place in the final. deny their loathed and vastly wealthier neighbors Real Madrid a a record 16 goals, believes the expectation weighing on him and “He has changed everything. He has altered the mental- record-extending 10th. Atletico have already outperformed this his team mates can be used to their advantage. ity of the players.” season in securing a remarkable La Liga triumph, shattering the “Since the first day we came here, we’ve felt that positive pres- domestic dominance of Real and Barcelona and becoming the first sure to win the Champions League,” the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner GREAT INTELLIGENCE team other than the big two to win the Spanish title since Valencia told the UEFA website (www.uefa.com). A tough with clubs including AS Roma in 2004. They are also back competing with the continent’s elite “Real Madrid have wanted it for a long time,” added the and AC Milan, Ancelotti, now 54, is one of only six peo- after a lengthy absence and the first showpiece between teams Portugal captain, a European champion with Manchester United in ple who have been European club champion as player from the same city in the 59-year history of the European Cup is 2008. “It is a moment that the whole Madrid family are dreaming and coach. their second final after they lost out to Bayern Munich in 1974. about - the ‘decima’.” Atletico, meanwhile, are sweating on the fit- He won consecutive European Cups with Milan in Real, the world’s richest club by income who have splashed ness of top scorer Diego Costa, who has eight Champions League 1989 and 1990 before beginning his coaching career more than 600 million euros ($822 million) on players over the goals this term. with AC Reggiana. After taking over at Milan in 2001, he past five years, are appearing in their 13th final, but the first since The Brazil-born forward, a Spain international, has been suffer- led the club to Champions League triumphs in 2003 and their last success in 2002. Their vast outlay is proof of Real presi- ing with a series of muscle problems and limped out of Saturday’s 2007, also reaching the final in 2005, and went on to win dent Florentino Perez’s obsession with winning what is known in title decider at Barcelona along with Turkey playmaker Arda Turan. an English and FA Cup double with Spain as “la decima” (the 10th). “We will wait to see how the Diego Costa and Arda Turan injury Chelsea in 2009-10. Dismissed after two seasons in After Real’s La Liga campaign faltered in the final weeks of the situation evolves by the end of week,” Atletico coach Diego London, he led PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years campaign, failure in Lisbon would be a massive blow to the con- Simeone told a news conference. “We will seek alternatives if they in 2012-13 before agreeing a three-year contract at Real. struction magnate’s prestige. do not recover in time.” If Costa and Arda are sidelined, forward He now has a chance to join former coach “From the first day a player arrives at the club, he is already say- Adrian, who scored the opening goal at Chelsea in the semi-final Bob Paisley as the only man to win the European title ing that he has come to win the ‘decima’,” former Real forward second leg and attacking midfielder Raul Garcia are likely to come three times as a coach. Predrag Mijatovic said in an interview with Marca sports daily pub- in. Simeone’s Real counterpart Carlo Ancelotti also has injury con- Former Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini is one lished on Wednesday. “There is too much pressure being put on cerns, with forward Karim Benzema and centre back Pepe in a race of many who has singled out Ancelotti’s ability to unify the players,” added the Montenegrin, who scored the winner in to get fit. his players as what sets him apart. Real’s 1-0 Champions League final triumph against Juventus in “Right now they can’t play but we have four more days until the “Of all the coaches I have had, he was the one who 1998. final and we will make a decision right at the end,” Ancelotti, bid- managed the dressing room with the most serenity,” “The best way to take the sting out of this obsession is winning ding to become only the second man after Liverpool’s Bob Paisley Maldini said last year when Ancelotti was named Real and then we won’t be talking about the 10th anymore.” Atletico, to win the European title three times as a coach, said. coach. “The secret of our success was his normality. He known as “the mattress makers” after their red and white-striped Raphael Varane would replace Pepe if necessary, added the isn’t one of those who works alone and this shows great shirts, and Real, who play in all-white and are nicknamed “the Italian, while Alvaro Morata could come in as a straight swap for intelligence. “For this reason he will win titles wherever meringues”, have met only once before in continental competi- Benzema at centre forward. he goes: with Milan, Chelsea or Real Madrid.” tion, in the European Cup semi-finals in 1958-59. Real’s chances were dealt a blow in the semi-final against hold- Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, who has locked horns Real went through to what was their fourth consecutive final ers Bayern when midfielder earned a booking that with Ancelotti several times including the Champions after winning a replay in Zaragoza when Ferenc Puskas scored the means he is suspended for the final. League finals in 2005 and 2007 when he was in charge winner in a 2-1 success. They are likely to miss the control he gives the team and likely at Liverpool, echoed Maldini in an interview with The city neighbors have met four times this season. In La Liga, replacement Asier Illarramendi, who has failed to impress since Spanish radio. Atletico won 1-0 at Real’s Bernabeu stadium and they drew 2-2 at joining from Real Sociedad, may be out of his depth against “He (Ancelotti) is a polite, educated person, a good the Calderon in the return, while in the two-legged King’s Cup Atletico’s experienced midfield. Atletico have held one celebration professional who knows his work and does it well,” semi-finals Atletico were on the end of a 5-0 aggregate drubbing. at the Neptune fountain in central Madrid this season, partying Benitez said. “And he wins trophies as well,” added the Those encounters are unlikely to have much impact on the with their delirious fans after winning La Liga for the first time in Spaniard. “He is a great coach and a great person and Champions League final, with Atletico, unbeaten in Europe this 18 years, and will be hoping to return with the European Cup. Real Madrid will recover the values it has always had term and on a high after wrapping up the La Liga title on Saturday Should they fall short, Real and their fans will flock to the near- with his arrival.” — Reuters and Real under enormous pressure to avoid what would be a by Cibeles fountain having finally claimed the elusive ‘decima’ humiliating reverse. after more than a decade of disappointment. — Reuters