Jose Mourinho praises Carlo Ancelotti following Real Madrid’s Champions League victory, stating that he is not just a coach who relies on social media.

Carlo Ancelotti, the esteemed Head Coach of Real Madrid, basked in the glory of victory as he graciously acknowledged the fans following Real Madrid’s triumph over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final.

Despite being on the defensive for large portions of the game against Borussia Dortmund, Los Blancos showcased their trademark resilience and delivered when it mattered most, securing the ultimate prize in club football once again.

In a post-match interview on TNT Sports, Jose Mourinho praised Ancelotti, stating, “He’s not a social media coach, he’s a proper coach. He comes from the meritocracy. Go to his office and see how many medals.”

Borussia Dortmund paid the price for their wastefulness in front of goal, particularly in the first half. Karim Adeyemi had a golden opportunity to score but mishandled his touch when attempting to round Thibaut Courtois, while Niclas Fullkrug struck the inside of the post minutes later.

Fullkrug then had a powerful header expertly saved in the second half. However, against the run of play, Los Blancos broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when Dani Carvajal scored from a corner.

The situation worsened for Dortmund nine minutes later when Ian Maatsen’s careless pass across the back was intercepted by Jude Bellingham, who then set up Vinicius Junior to make it 2-0.

This victory marked an extraordinary journey to the title for Real Madrid, which included triumphs over Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Ancelotti secured his fifth Champions League title as a manager, further solidifying his legendary status.

Mourinho added, “This is Real Madrid, they can be humble. Sometimes it can be hard for the big clubs to have that humbleness. When they played against Man City, to beat them they had to change their philosophy. Ask Real Madrid fans if they were happy to change their philosophy. They don’t sell philosophy, they put cups in the office.”

Rio Ferdinand echoed Mourinho’s sentiments, expressing his admiration for Ancelotti’s old-school approach that continues to yield success.

“Don Carlo, that’s the only way you can talk about him now,” Ferdinand remarked. “That humility comes from him. He’s the guy that guides this team and makes them feel comfortable to take a backwards step. We see so many teams nowadays focused on controlling the ball and the game, but Ancelotti has the humility to recognize that they may have to win in a different way, and this team is capable of doing just that.”

Ferdinand emphasized Ancelotti’s ability to adapt the game plan without panicking, stating, “You’ve got to be able to maneuver your game plan, and he does that. He doesn’t panic. That’s the big word. They ride those waves, and because of the quality they have at the top of the pitch, the defenders and midfielders can feel comfortable soaking up the pressure and then strike back with force!”