How Ancelotti motivation forced Madrid to double the hustle

Carlo Ancelotti showed his team a video of their comebacks this season in the dressing room before they pulled off another miracle against Manchester City last night.

‘We have had eight comebacks this season and we put them together then with the message at the end: we need one more,’ said the Italian coach.

Asked if he could now use Wednesday night’s comeback for another video before the final he joked: ‘Well at least we start the final 0-0!’

Asked if he would smoke another cigar following the victory he said: ‘I don’t smoke cigars. It was just a photo with friends. The players are my friends.’

The club’s usually glacial director Emilio Butragueno began his post-match interview: ‘One of these days my heart is going to stop because of these games.’

While match commentator Manolo Lama said: ‘The best news for Liverpool is that the game is not played at the Bernabeu.’

Others marvelled at the fact that this season’s three comebacks have all taken place in a stadium under renovation.

Spanish radio presenter Juanma Castana joked the club should think about keeping it the way it is.

He said: ‘Keep the canvas tarpaulin! What that tarpaulin has seen, no tarpaulin has seen. When they take it away they should cut it up and sell it to fans. What is under that canvas?’

Another commentator said: ‘We have ex-players and coaches in the media to explain things. We need shamans or psychiatrists to explain this.’

Real were minutes away from being dumped out of Europe following Riyad Mahrez’s 73rd-minute strike to give Pep Guardiola’s side a two-goal cushion.

But Los Blancos never gave up with 21-year-old winger Rodrygo scoring in the 90th and 91st minutes of the match to take the Champions League semi-final to extra time with the score level at 5-5 on aggregate.

The epic turnaround was complete when Karim Benzema converted a penalty in the opening five minutes of the additional period.

REAL MADRID’S 2021-22 COMEBACKS

May 4: Real Madrid vs Man City 3-1 (6-5 agg)

April 17: Sevilla vs Real Madrid 2-3

April 12: Real Madrid vs Chelsea 2-3 (5-4 agg)

March 9: Real Madrid vs PSG 3-1

March 5: Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad 4-1

November 28: Real Madrid vs Sevilla 2-1

September 19: Valencia vs Real Madrid 1-2

September 12: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo 5-2