Carlo Ancelotti Let Real Madrid Players Pick Substitutions In Manchester City Comeback, It's A Managerial Masterclass
Carlo Ancelotti worked in tandem with senior Real Madrid players when deciding which substitutions to make in extra time against Manchester City. Check out footage of their touchline exchange below.
Madrid ran out 6-5 winners on aggregate at the Santiago Bernabeu after a sensational 3-1 comeback on Wednesday evening.
Rodrygo scored twice in the dying embers to take the game to extra time and he replaced Toni Kroos with just less than half an hour remaining.
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It was a bold move given Kroos' experience in the competition and it paid off. Luka Modric and Casemiro made way for Eduardo Camavinga and Marco Asensio respectively to make it a very young Madrid team.
Once they went ahead thanks to a Karim Benzema penalty, Ancelotti turned to veterans Kroos and Marcelo on the bench to plan their next course of action.
Dani Ceballos took Benzema's place in a move that shocked many, given how Madrid's lead was by one goal.
Defenders Lucas Vasquez and Jesus Vallejo came on for Vinicius Jr. and Eder Militao for their fifth and sixth changes.
Kroos spoke following the match and admitted it was a team effort to manage the game out.
He explained: "Ancelotti asked for the opinion of the experienced players on who he should sub on at extra time. This situation describes him perfectly as a coach and is why he works so well with the team."
Ancelotti is regarded as the ultimate man manager and he'll be hoping to win his fourth Champions League as a manager and Madrid's 14th overall.
The 62-year-old helped deliver 'La Decima' back in 2014 during his first spell in charge.
He's also got history with fellow finalists Liverpool, who Los Blancos will face in Paris later this month.
Ancelotti's AC Milan were victims of the famous Istanbul comeback in 2005 before getting their revenge two years later.
In addition to that, Ancelotti managed Everton for a season and a half and defeated Jurgen Klopp's side 2-0 at Anfield last season.
Madrid wrapped the La Liga title up last weekend with a 4-0 win over Espanyol and can now focus on their third major European final against the Reds, who are still locked in an intense title race with City.
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Topics: Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Champions League, Man City
Daniel Marland