Ancelotti's personal odyssey

As he faced the press after winning the UEFA Champions League in Athens last May it was clear Carlo Ancelotti had completed his own personal odyssey. The journey has been long and arduous, but for the AC Milan coach the fact the destination was so unexpected made it all the sweeter.

Difficult period
When Milan last played at the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium where the final was held the previous November, Ancelotti's team were at their lowest ebb. Sixteenth in Serie A, they had won just one of their previous four league matches. Forget about winning the UEFA Champions League, the real challenge was simply to qualify for the competition again. "We took the measurements of the pitch because we knew we were going to play the final here," Ancelotti joked when recalling that 1-0 defeat by AEK Athens FC. "Obviously we couldn't be sure about that because it was such a difficult period for us." Injuries to Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta were hurting Milan badly. Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso's form had dipped following their exertions in helping Italy lift the FIFA World Cup and Milan were feeling the effects of a difficult pre-season.

Points docked
Plans had to be changed at the last minute after Milan were docked points for their part in the sporting fraud scandal, which also meant starting the season early in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. FK Crvena Zvezda were duly beaten, but the affects of having to play those matches would be felt long into the campaign. By the time Milan lost to AEK in November, Ancelotti's job was on the line. "That's football," he said. "I wasn't bothered by the rumours about being replaced because in this sport when things don't go well you pay the price. I never felt threatened. The fact we won the Champions League is as unexpected as it is great. When I think back to December, we had to overcome so many hurdles that it makes it a very special victory. We maintained great harmony despite the troubles."

'Greatest victory'
Ancelotti was twice a European Champion Clubs' Cup winner with Milan as a player and he triumphed again as coach of this team in 2003. Nothing, however, could match the feeling experienced at the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium. If losing to Liverpool FC on penalties after leading 3-0 in the final in Istanbul two years ago was the low point of his career, this was the high. Revenge didn't come into it. "It is the greatest victory we've had," he said. "We never lost sight of what we wanted to achieve. Very few people or fans expected Milan to win this most important of trophies this season, perhaps nobody expected it. What I've achieved is due to the fact that I feel I belong to Milan. I wore this shirt as a player, and winning important trophies wearing the shirt makes my feelings and relationship with Milan strong."

Strong bond
That relationship is at its strongest with his players, and he cites a winter break in Malta as the turning point of the season. "I think we worked very well in Malta, the team was in good spirits. We wanted to forget what had happened last August, the bad performances and the docked points. But I wouldn't see this victory as revenge with regards to the scandal. Italian football suffered a lot last summer, especially Milan, but this is an important victory for the whole of Italian football. We can become more serene and get back some of our credibility."

'Motivation'
Ancelotti's tactical changes during the course of the season played a large part in that. His decision to use Kaká in a more advanced position behind a lone striker, for instance, transformed Milan's campaign. But it is for his motivational skills that Ancelotti is most loved by his players. He certainly got the best out of Filippo Inzaghi. Having used the veteran striker sparingly since the turn of the year, he timed the 33-year-old's return to devastating effect. "I try to get the best out of the players, but it wasn't difficult to find motivation," Ancelotti told uefa.com after Inzaghi's two-goal, match-winning performance against Liverpool.

'New energy'
"We had some bad moments and thinking about those periods helps you find new energy. I had to make a difficult choice between Inzaghi and [Alberto] Gilardino. Gilardino was in good condition, and his strength might have been useful, but I decided to go for Inzaghi's experience instead." Experience says never write off Milan. As they proved against Manchester United FC in the semi-finals, they are at their most dangerous when up against it. Rivals FC Internazionale Milano may have run away with the Serie A title, but once again it is the Rossoneri who had had the last laugh.