"You even force us to support Everton" – Love letter sent after success, stint with Toffees still surprises
09/05/2024 14:16
With Carlo Ancelotti taking Real Madrid to yet another Champions League final, it's hard to remember he was once the man in charge at Everton.
Well, he was, something it seems journalist Ivan Zazzaroni is willing to forgive him for as he heaped praise on the Italian today.
Real Madrid secured their place in the final at Wembley last night, with a stunning, late victory over Bayern Munich putting them on course to try and win their 15th crown.
It also put Ancelotti on course for a fifth success in the competition too, having won it twice with AC Milan and Real Madrid before now.
The Italian is one of the greatest managers in the history of the game, with his success in Europe coupled with league titles in Italy, England, Spain, France and Germany in a trophy cabinet littered with glory.
Everton are something of an anomaly in that list, with the Italian taking charge in December 2019 but leaving in 2021 when Real Madrid came calling once again.
That all now feels like a lifetime ago as he heads into another Champions League final, but Zazzaroni was not forgetting it in his praise today.
“Eighty-seven and 91′. Thank you, football, for giving us emotions like this," he said.
"And thank you, Carlo, because for us you are football, what we love: thank you for existing (and resisting). For years you have managed to involve us from a distance, you even force us to support Everton, with Real – I admit – you succeed more. Easy.
“Ancelotti makes everything simpler and more genuine and has now become a belief: it is no coincidence that the Bernabeu believed in the comeback until the 87th minute when the feat was accomplished.
"At the end I saw him sing the anthem of Madrid together with the fans, him alone in the center of the Bernabeu. And it is the most beautiful and spontaneous image of another Wednesday at Carletto’s."
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