Cristiano Ronaldo has said it is Carlo Ancelotti who produced Real Madrid’s emphatic Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich.
The Portugal forward scored twice on Tuesday night as Madrid beat Bayern 4-0 in the Allianz Arena, with Sergio Ramos scoring the other goals.
Combined with Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first-leg, Los Blancos have reached their first Champions League final in 12 years with a commanding victory over the holders – and Ronaldo says Ancelotti is the reason.
“Ancelotti deserves all the credit. He has changed everything,” AS reports Ronaldo as saying.
“He has changed the mentality of the players.
“Scoring four goals away at Bayern is not easy. The team has done very well. We’re lucky.
“You have to give congratulations to the team, who are very close.
“We manage the team in the best way and that makes thing easier. The team was phenomenal and we are in the final, which is what we wanted.
“I’m not surprised [by the team’s unity] because it was good in the first-leg too.
“I’m happy because our defence is awesome. They are all playing very well and people further forward seized the opportunity.”
Ronaldo expanded on Madrid’s desire to reach the Champions League final, and added that he has no preference as to their opponents, with Atletico Madrid and Chelsea meeting tonight.
“It took us a long time to get there but now we are and deservedly so,” Ronaldo said.
“We have to go with our head up but our feet on the ground, step by step.
“Obviously we work throughout the year to play finals and to win them.
“It’ll be a tough game whoever we play. It’s a final, it’s 50-50 and will be decided by details.
“I have no preference. [Atletico and Chelsea] are both very strong and either of them is going to be very, very hard.
“I always prepare well, no matter where the game is,” Ronaldo added when the prospect of playing in Lisbon, the site of the final, was raised.
Ronaldo also touched on two of his teammates, goal scorer Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso, who will miss the final after he was booked in the first-half.
“Sergio is a very good header,” Ronaldo said.
“He was a centre-forward and has a centre-forward’s soul. I happy for him because he’s a great professional.
“Xabi is very important to us. He won’t play in the final but he’s done an amazing job in the Champions League.
“These are the circumstances of the game. He’ll play another, and another.”
Ronaldo also set a new Champions League scoring record with his goals in Munich and admitted he had the achievement in mind, but only because it would mean helping his team progress.
“I was looking at the scoring record. I’m not obsessed with goals but I knew it could happen naturally and to play a final,” he said.
“The team has helped me so much and I’m very happy, but above all, I’m happy for the chance to win the Champions League.”
