Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Liverpool were easier to decipher
While speaking in the post-match press conference, as quoted by The Athletic, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that managing tactics for the UEFA Champions League final was easy as Liverpool were easy to decipher.
Real Madrid defeated the Reds in the final thanks to Vinicius Jr’s 59th-minute goal and excellent shot-stopping from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Even though Liverpool dominated possession throughout the whole game, Los Blancos were wise to cut out the majority of the attacks and kept world-class strikers like Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scoreless.
After the game, Real boss Ancelotti suggested that it was the first time in the knockout phase that they matched the intensity of the opponent and was successful in making them pay.
“Looking back, people said Paris Saint-Germain were unlucky, Chelsea were unlucky, Manchester City were unlucky. This was practically the only game where people thought we were more or less on the same level.”
The Italian manager even added that Jurgen Klopp’s team has a clear identity that made the task easier for him to decipher their playing style and create winning tactics.
“I think it helped that Liverpool were easier to decipher than the others because they have a very clear identity and we could prepare the way that we did. We knew what strategy to take — don’t give them space behind the defence to run into.”
Are Liverpool becoming vulnerable?
Right after Jurgen Klopp took charge of the Liverpool team in 2015, the German manager implemented a distinctive set of tactics that have since gone on to define his team’s style. It has proven successful as the Reds have in fact won all major trophies under the German.
However, they haven’t been able to dominate Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League. They have won just one Champions League and Premier League crowns apiece, missing out on two more of each by the smallest of margins.
Jurgen Klopp has created a certain way of playing with a certain set of players that have become easily recognizable. It remains to be seen if he will tinker with it in the offseason or come up with a plan B.
Certain players bring different dynamics to the team and the manager might be wise to sign some uncharacteristic players that would blend with the current tactics but would also bring a different approach to the game.
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While Ancelotti can speak as he sees fit, it would be too generous to say that Real matched Liverpool’s intensity on the night. Had it not been for Courtois being in god-mode, the scoreline could have been vastly different.
Liverpool has an excellent plan A. They will do well to add another alternative to their playbook.
