Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, recently made a return to Bayern Munich and issued an apology for not being able to remember his German language skills. In a statement made on Monday, the Italian coach admitted, “Ich habe vergessen Deutsch [I have forgotten German],” albeit with a slight mix-up in the word order. This apology came ahead of the much-anticipated matchup between the two teams in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Ancelotti previously coached Bayern Munich for a little over a year during the 2016-17 season and managed to secure the Bundesliga title during his tenure. However, despite this achievement, it was not sufficient to meet the high ambitions of the Bavarian powerhouse. Prior to Ancelotti’s arrival, Bayern had already won the Bundesliga title four times in a row. With Ancelotti at the helm, they secured their fifth consecutive title, but this was followed by six more wins after his departure.
Departure from Bayern Munich
Unfortunately, Ancelotti’s time at Bayern Munich came to an end after a shaky start to the 2017-18 season. A significant 3-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain was the breaking point for the then club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, leading to Ancelotti’s departure. The team’s aspirations in the Champions League were put to an end by Madrid in the quarterfinals, and they were also eliminated from the German Cup by Borussia Dortmund, leaving only the Bundesliga title as their sole accomplishment.
Despite the challenges faced during his stint at Bayern Munich, Ancelotti expressed fond memories of his time at the club. He stated, “I was fortunate to be coach of this club. It could have been for longer, yes, but otherwise it was a nice time.” Ancelotti reminisced about his time at the club with great affection, despite the tarnishing of his reputation due to his shortcomings in the previous Champions League season.
A Legacy of Success
Throughout his career, Ancelotti has enjoyed success as a coach, winning domestic honors with clubs like Milan, Madrid, Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern. He led Real Madrid to the Champions League title in 2014 and returned to the Spanish giant in 2021, securing another Champions League victory in 2022. With a total of four Champions League titles to his name, including two with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, Ancelotti’s track record speaks for itself.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel praised Ancelotti for his contributions to football as both a player and a coach. Tuchel acknowledged Ancelotti’s impressive achievements and described him as polite and humble, traits that are exceptional in such a competitive field. As Ancelotti continues to excel with Real Madrid, he is on the cusp of securing yet another LaLiga championship and aims to advance in the Champions League semifinals.
Carlo Ancelotti’s return to Bayern Munich may have been met with mixed emotions, but his legacy of success and sportsmanship continues to be acknowledged and appreciated by fans, players, and fellow coaches alike. Despite the challenges faced and the apology issued for forgetting German, Ancelotti’s impact on the world of football remains significant and enduring.
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