“Real Madrid will be in the Champions League final” - Carlo Ancelotti makes bold claim despite defeat to Liverpool
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the club will play in the Champions League final despite this week's defeat against Liverpool. Los Blancos have blown hot and cold this season, but arrived at Anfield on Wednesday on a two-game winning run.
However, they were undone by Arne Slot's marauding Reds. The Merseyside club dominated the reigning champions, picking up a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
The result left Madrid in 24th place in the Champions League table. Los Blancos have won two and lost three of their five games so far and their participation in the knockouts remains in doubt.
However, speaking to El Larguero, Ancelotti remained bullish about the situation.
"The most important thing is that Real Madrid WILL BE in the Champions League final," said Ancelotti.
The Spanish champions' struggles this season could have its roots in the Italian manager's inability to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe. The French superstar arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer on a Bosman move after the expiry of his Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) contract.
However, Mbappe hasn't been at his sizzling best so far. The 25-year-old has had to operate in a more central role owing to Vinicius Junior's presence in the left-forward position. That may have affected his form.
On Wednesday, Mbappe failed to have an impact against Liverpool in the Brazilian's absence. To make matters worse, he also missed a penalty.
How many Champions Leagues have Real Madrid won?
Real Madrid have won the Champions League a record 15 times in their history. The tournament was initiated in 1955, when it was called the European Cup. It was a knockout tournament comprising the winners of the domestic leagues.
Los Blancos won the European Cup in the inaugural season and then won four more on the go. After a brief absence from the podium, the LaLiga champions lifted the fabled trophy once again in the 1965/66 season.
The tournament was renamed the Champions League in 1992, which introduced a round-robin stage before the knockouts. Marseille won the tournament that season and Real Madrid got their hands on the trophy in the 1997/98 campaign.
Los Blancos have also won the premier European club competition in 2000, 2002, and 2014. The Spanish giants then created history by winning the tournament three times from 2016 to 2018. Carlo Ancelotti lifted the trophy with Madrid in 2022 and also in 2024.