The Santiago Bernabéu was absolutely electric on Saturday evening. The stars seemed to be aligning for Real Madrid to clinch yet another Spanish league title in front of their fervid fans. A 2-0 victory over Cádiz had Los Blancos’ hands inching ever closer to grasping that iconic trophy.
But amidst the buzz and anticipation of celebrating La Liga glory, manager Carlo Ancelotti made one thing crystal clear – his squad’s total focus is fixated on the mammoth UEFA Champions League semifinal clash against Bayern Munich looming on Wednesday. Any premature title jubilation? Not a chance.
“We cannot propose scenarios like ‘if Barcelona wins…’, it is not worth waiting and the fans understand it perfectly,” Ancelotti emphatically stated in his post-match press conference. The Italian tactician’s words carried an unmistakable tone of determined singularity.
To illustrate the stark contrast from just two years ago, Ancelotti drew a poignant comparison. “Two years ago it was in our hands, because by beating Espanyol we were champions, but not today. And it’s not worth waiting.”
His message was unequivocal – Madrid’s tunnel-vision is squarely centered on Bayern and that monumental European showdown. Any lingering thoughts about potentially clinching La Liga would simply have to be parked. As Ancelotti bluntly put it, “If we have to celebrate we will do it next Sunday, something that the fans understand perfectly.”
The pursuit of glamorous Champions League glory trumps all else at this juncture for the record 14-time European champions. Even the euphoria of celebrating a domestic league title before their own delirious supporters can wait.
“We haven’t won yet, so we can’t pose scenarios like ‘if Barcelona wins…’. Nothing. Home, calm and think about Bayern,” Ancelotti reiterated impassively.
You could almost visualize the elder statesman shooing away those pestering narratives about Barcelona’s result against Girona possibly impacting Real’s title coronation timing. His sole preoccupation: Preparing to knockout the Bavarian goliaths over two legs.
Ancelotti’s stoic demeanor and refusal to be distracted by Madrid’s impending league triumph spoke volumes. This is a manager who has etched his name into Real’s fabled European lore, delivering “La Decima” in 2014. He comprehends that transcendent Champions League success is what really immortalizes you at this sacrosanct club.
As the veteran’s words resonated, his players seemed to share that myopic mindset. The effusive celebrations after dispatching Cadiz were distinctly muted, almost corporate – a simple acknowledgement of a professional job completed. No hint of premature title giddiness crept in.
“It is a celebration taking into account what has to happen on Wednesday. We are all happy with the match, but let’s think about Bayern,” was how Ancelotti described his team’s reserved on-pitch reveling.
The manager’s taut, businesslike focus has clearly permeated throughout his talented squad. Their eyes are all laser-locked on Sadio Mane, Thomas Müller, and the rest of Bayern’s star-studded German goalscoring machine.
Any thoughts of reveling in domestic spoils can wait. Slaying the Bundesliga champions is quite literally all that’s consuming Real Madrid’s collective psyche at this juncture.
“We are going with all the excitement in the world, because we play here… and we already know what has happened many times. Our fans are going to help us. By the way, we are going to bring out our best version,” Ancelotti declared defiantly, almost as a warning shot across Bayern’s bow.
His words carried a quiet confidence underpinned by the vast European experience accumulated over his iconic managerial career. Real’s hallowed home grounds have bore witness to some truly historic Champions League nights under the bright lights. Ancelotti seems determined to autograph yet another page in that illustrious European tome this week.
Of course, having a reinvigorated Thibaut Courtois back between the posts provides an enormous boost. The Belgian’s well-timed return could prove invaluable against Bayern’s fearsome attack.
“Thibaut is a very important piece for this team,” Ancelotti gushed. “Although Lunin has had a spectacular season…Courtois has returned very well and was decisive in that one-on-one match.”
That veteran’s savvy and big-game experience will be critical to unlocking another semifinal triumph. As one of Ancelotti’s wise old sayings goes: “Tell me about the sea, sailor.”
The eloquent Italian has indeed seen all the choppy waters and soared to the crestson European football’s grandest stages. Suffice it to say, he won’t easily be thrown off course or distracted by domestic streamers right now.
Fittingly, the young sparks like Jude Bellingham seem cut from that same singuarlity of purpose cloth. “Bellingham has fully recovered, but he needed to play a little, like Vini, so we put him in. He will be at his best on Wednesday,” Ancelotti declared matter-of-factly.
Bellingham and Vinicius Jr have embodied the dynamic verve and skill of this current Madrid crop. Their prodigious talents and big-game experience from last year’s Champions League final triumph makes the prospect of their primes converging on Bayern a legitimately daunting prospect.
As they hit the hallowed Santiago Bernabeu pitch on Wednesday night, this single-minded Real outfit will undoubtedly hear the thunderous echoes of past European glories reverberating through this cathedral of the sport.
La Decimocuarta – Real’s 14th European Cup – is indeed tantalizingly within reach once more. But you’d never know it based on the hyperfocused comments and workmanlike mindset oozing from Ancelotti’s relentlessly zeroed-in Real side.
First, they must navigate the Bayern Munich roadblock with extreme prejudice. Only then can Los Blancos potentially allow themselves a momentary La Liga celebration before quickly refocusing on conquering the continent again.
The stage is set for another chapter in Real Madrid’s relentless European dynasty. Just don’t expect any premature revelry from Ancelotti and his battle-hardened troops. This surgical singularity bodes ominously for Robert Lewandowski’s former employer.
