Carlo Ancelotti hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s contribution to the Real Madrid cause in 2014 as ‘fantastic’.
The Portuguese is in line to win back-to-back FIFA Ballon d'Or's after a year which saw him play a key role in Los Blancos' pursuit of both Copa del Rey and the Champions League, the latter of which ended the side's 11-year wait for La Decima.
“Cristiano had a fantastic season,” the Coach said at a Press conference prior to the award ceremony in Zurich.
“He was a great help for us because he had a fantastic year in the Champions League, with much consistency and scoring many goals.”
Ancelotti then outlined his blueprint to success in football management, having won titles in three different countries during his career.
“The first thing for a team to work is their ability to work hard and applying the quality of each player to the team,” he added.
“It’s a long process which requires patience. The players must understand that the team and the club are the most important thing.
“During my career, I’ve managed great players, but it’s easy to have relationships with them. I also have big stars.
“I also have a good relationship with the big stars, and they’re usually a big influence on the rest of the team, but as a Coach, I must treat everyone equally.”
