Despite his success in the Champions League final, Ancelotti insists there is always fear.

MADRID (AP) — Carlo Ancelotti is preparing to play in the Champions League final for the eighth time. He won six of the previous seven.

He is the competition’s most successful coach with his four titles. He also lifted Europe’s top trophy twice as a player.

The veteran Italian coach has no shortage of experience. But there is even greater anxiety and fear before the next important fight.

“The previews for these matches are always the same. “This is the most important game of the season for everyone… It will be the same week of happiness of being here and then the fear will come,” the 64-year-old Real Madrid coach said before this week’s start. In their final training week, Madrid face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in London.

“We live these days with all the excitement in the world, with what the finale demands. Calm, confident, positive. This is a week to enjoy considering what happens in the finale. We will enjoy it until Friday,” he explained. “Cold sweat and nerves appear on Saturday afternoon. On finals day I will eat broccoli, salmon and pasta. And after an hour of sleep, all thoughts about the game will come. Before a conversation, the heart starts to speed up… and when the game starts, the heart returns to its normal rhythm.”

Ancelotti won the Champions League with Madrid in 2022 and 2014, and with Milan in 2003 and 2007. In 2005, he lost the Champions League with Milan on penalties against Liverpool after taking a 3–0 lead.

His triumphs as a player came with Milan in 1989 and 1990. He was also part of the Roma team that reached the final in 1984 but dropped out due to injury.

Ancelotti said he would maintain his regime ahead of the final at Wembley Stadium.

“I have my daily routine and I will follow it. I won’t do anything special, I have some superstitions because I was taught that if you don’t have it, it’s bad luck. We must decorate the cake with victory,” he commented.

Ancelotti insisted that his most memorable Champions League moments came in Madrid, including the 2022 season when he had to come back several times to reach the final.

He also mentioned the agonizing comeback in the semi-final against Bayern Munich a few weeks ago, when Joselu scored in the 88th minute and deep into stoppage time.

He found the campaign particularly difficult due to a long list of injuries to key players, including Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba. Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouameni also missed time.

“The generation that came here is a generation of determination and a positive attitude. And they will continue to broadcast this in the coming years,” he emphasized.

Madrid, which has won the Spanish league and the Spanish Super Cup, is seeking its sixth European title in 10 seasons to repeat the club’s success between 1955 and 1965.

Ancelotti takes more pride in the way he manages the dressing room than his tactics.

He stated that it is “a fundamental aspect of life – interpersonal relationships with your family, friends and colleagues, based on respect for others.”

“I hope the people who work with me do the same. For me, interpersonal relationships are more important than work relationships,” he said. “I’m not a psychologist, but I have experience in changing room management and I believe that respect in interpersonal relationships is the most important thing. It’s not just about the technical and tactical. If there is no good atmosphere, good work is impossible.”