article_snippet.sent: It was just after breakfast, only a few short hours after the rampant champagne-fuelled celebrations into the early morning had ended, but Carlo Ancelotti knew exactly what Carlo Ancelotti was saying.
article_snippet.sent: (Carlo Ancelotti own words, not mine) told an Italian journalist friend:
article_snippet.sent: but this is Real Madrid.
article_snippet.sent: And of course Carlo Ancelotti was speaking after Madrid’s two principal teams, sworn enemies, had contested the Champions League Final and Carlo Ancelotti had lifted the ‘cup with the big ears’ for the fifth time as player or coach.
article_snippet.sent: Carlo Ancelotti is starting to feel the strain after recent poor results at Real Madrid .
article_snippet.sent: Carlo Ancelotti was a hero after guiding Real Madrid to their 10th European Cup triumph last year .
article_snippet.sent: In fact, during each of the seven defeats in 11 derbies Ancelotti has had to soak up as Madrid manager against Diego Simeone’s bruising buccaneers, Ancelotti hasn’t scored once.
article_snippet.sent: None of which make Ancelotti an idiot.
article_snippet.sent: Where they do, cumulatively, leave Ancelotti is in perhaps the most embarrassing position of Ancelotti career.
article_snippet.sent: Not because if Ancelotti loses the imminent Champions League quarter-final against Spain’s champions Ancelotti fears the sack.
article_snippet.sent: Cristiano Ronaldo sits dejected during Real's 4
article_snippet.sent: Ancelotti not only famously doled out revenge on Rafa Benitez’s team two years later — when Milan reached the 2007 final they watched the Liverpool v Chelsea second semi-final together, cheering and roaring for the Reds more hoarsely than any Koppite to go through so that history could be re-visited — history could be re-visited — could also come to terms with the remarkable 3-3-and-penalties defeat.
article_snippet.sent: I’ve managed nearly 900 matches in my career and two where My team played exceptionally well were that Istanbul final and the semi against Manchester United in 2007.
article_snippet.sent: So CHELSEA is a different red-and-white thorn in his side.
article_snippet.sent: Since then, it has been as if Simeone and Co have soaked up all the anger, all the humiliation, all the impotent rage Simeone and Co felt when Cristiano Ronaldo venerated his penalty goal (to kill an already dead match) for 4-1 with his ‘I’m actually the Incredible Hulk’ celebration.
article_snippet.sent: ‘The most important, most intelligent player in every great team is usually a midfielder,’ Ancelotti believes.
article_snippet.sent: Ancelotti was one such, as was Simeone, plus Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola (and Max Allegri at a far lower level) at four of the other eight Champions League quarter- finalists.
article_snippet.sent: And that’s something else, other than Ancelotti’s future employment with Madrid, which is at stake this week.
highlights_snippet.sent: Carlo Ancelotti is under increasing pressure after poor form in 2015 .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Carlo Ancelotti masterminded Real's 10th European Cup triumph last season .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: But that win over Atletico hasn't made Carlo Ancelotti job any more secure .