So it was written. Nothing could deflect Madrid from their often tumultuous procession towards their fourteenth Champions League crown. Real on the roof of Europe, the photo has a taste of deja vu. Since 1956 and the first edition of the C1, removed by the “casa blanca”, obviously, Madrid has won 20% of the trophies at stake. Seven, already, since the beginning of the century, including five in the last nine editions.
“In the final, we don’t play to produce beautiful football”
But the “decimocuarta” is perhaps the strongest of all. Because at the end of winter, this team did not look like a potential king of Europe. However, the more she is tossed about, the more she believes in her destiny. This band of veterans, some of whom (Benzema, Nacho, Carvajal, Isco, Marcelo, Casmiro, Modric, Kroos) won their fifth personal title in Saint-Denis. “In the Champions League final, we don’t play to produce good football but to win”, released Toni Kroos, in the mixed zone. The chorus is worn out. But in the mouth of the German, it resonates as obvious.
Tactically, Madrid’s low block closed the depth at English speed. A lightning counter-attack concluded by Vinicius was enough. And the double meter of Thibaut Courtois, author of nine saves – a record for a Champions League final – did the rest.
Yes, the backbone of this White House is no longer twenty years old. But these old veterans have some (very) fine remains, even though they are far from having mastered everything on Saturday evening. That’s an understatement.
And now ? Modric (36) and Kroos (32) should be back for at least one season. Casemiro, younger than these friends in the midfield, has a lease until 2025 while Karim Benzema, barring cataclysm, will glean his first Ballon d’Or next fall.
But Real is not just a landmark of grumblers. Far from it. Saturday evening, among the fourteen Madrid players who walked on the lawn, four were 22 years old or younger (Valverde, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Camavinga). The former Rennais, who entered five minutes from time, did not hide his pleasure after the match. “It’s a childhood dream come true, that’s why I came here. »
Carlo Ancelotti, as a symbol
The Real locker room looks more than ever like a crossing point between generations where the fiber of winning is transmitted. With Carlo Ancelotti at the helm. And that for at least one more season. The Italian technician alone symbolizes the eternal soul of this Real. Twelve months ago, he slammed the door of Everton, at the end of an exercise concluded in relative anonymity at the Toffees.
Returning to the Spanish capital (after a first stint between 2013 and 2015) to compensate for the departure of Zidane, he therefore won his fourth C1 as a coach (2003 and 2007 with AC Milan, 2014 and 2022 with Real Madrid). Absolute record. “I don’t think about trophies, he confided, humble. I had a few difficult years but this season with Real is a great success. I was not expecting this (at the start of the season) until we win this C1, although I am naturally optimistic… ”
It doesn’t matter, the nature of Real-là is to win. And the love story between the Merengues and Europe has lasted for almost seven decades.
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