Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić mentioned goodbye to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday as Actual Madrid beat Actual Sociedad 2-0, with Ancelotti saying the emotion he felt topped successful the Champions League.
Madrid had made the departure of coach Ancelotti — who leaves to take cost of the Brazil nationwide workforce — official on Friday, a day after asserting that midfielder Modrić, 39, would even be departing this summer time.
Modrić, who has received a membership file 28 trophies with Madrid, will depart after this summer time’s Membership World Cup in the US, the place the workforce will probably be coached by Xabi Alonso, whose arrival is anticipated to be confirmed within the coming days.
“It has been an honour, a pleasure, to educate this membership,” Ancelotti mentioned, talking to the gang after the ultimate whistle. “It is an unforgettable story. No one will overlook Karim [Benzema]’s three objectives in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain [in 2022]. No one will overlook Rodrygo’s two objectives in opposition to Manchester Metropolis [that same year]. No one will overlook Joselu’s two objectives [against Bayern Munich, in 2024]. And I will not overlook day by day I’ve spent right here. Ciao.”
Ancelotti is probably the most embellished supervisor in Madrid’s historical past, with 15 trophies received over six years, in two spells.
“It is the day of the best emotion,” he added later, talking to Actual Madrid TV. “While you win the Champions League, you do not really feel this type of emotion. Crying is not an issue, it is regular to cry… It has been an honour, a pleasure to be a part of this household and to write down and go down within the historical past of this membership. That was the purpose from my first day, and I’ve achieved it.”
Ancelotti had a contract at Madrid till 2026, however a season with no main trophy — lacking out to Barcelona in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, and eradicated within the Champions League quarterfinals — satisfied the membership to make a change.
Modrić has spent 13 years at Madrid, changing into one of the crucial influential midfielders within the membership’s lengthy historical past. His contract will expire this summer time, after Madrid’s involvement within the Membership World Cup is concluded.
“The second I by no means wished to return has arrived,” Modrić mentioned, talking to the Bernabéu crowd. “It has been a protracted, marvellous journey. I wish to thank the membership, the president Florentino Pérez, all of the coaches I’ve had all these years, my teammates, and all of the individuals who’ve helped me.
“We have received lots, we have had marvellous moments, we have received plenty of trophies, however the largest trophy I’ve received has been your affection, and your love. There is a phrase I like: do not cry as a result of it is over, smile as a result of it occurred.”
Modrić’s 28 trophies embrace a joint-record six Champions Leagues, and 4 LaLiga titles.
“My largest trophy is the love and love from the Actual Madrid followers,” he advised Actual Madrid TV. “From day one till in the present day, that is what I am going to bear in mind… It is a very emotional day. On the best way to the stadium and within the dressing room, it was very troublesome for me. I am very, very grateful and pleased.”
Each Ancelotti and Modrić cited Madrid’s epic run of comebacks within the 2022 Champions League marketing campaign as being amongst their private highlights.
“There have been so many unbelievable matches on the Bernabéu,” Modrić mentioned. “The Champions League, the comebacks in opposition to PSG, Chelsea, Metropolis… if I had to decide on one second, it is the PSG recreation. I mentioned that if we received that recreation, we might win the Champions League, and that is what occurred. There’s nonetheless an important problem forward, the Membership World Cup, and we’re going into it with the hope of successful it.”
Kylian Mbappé scored twice — as soon as in every half — in Madrid’s win over Actual Sociedad, to present Ancelotti and Modrić a successful send-off.
The membership have already began rebuilding the squad forward of subsequent season, having introduced the signing of defender Dean Huijsen, whereas ESPN has additionally reported that they’re eager to usher in Trent Alexander-Arnold for the Membership World Cup, and hope to signal left-back Álvaro Carreras from Benfica.
Madrid will start their Membership World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Al Hilal in Miami, Florida on June 18.