Carlo Ancelotti said he wouldn’t be Real Madrid manager today if it weren’t for Sergio Ramos, as he prepares to face the Sevilla defender in LaLiga on Saturday.
Ramos was a key player during the Italian’s first spell as Madrid coach between 2013 and 2015, scoring one of the most famous goals in the club’s history with the 93rd minute equaliser in their 2014 Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.
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The former Madrid and Spain captain rejoined boyhood club Sevilla last month as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’d love to see [Ramos] and say hello,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Friday. “I have affection for all the players I’ve had, but above all I have special affection for him.
“If I’m here today it’s because of Sergio Ramos. If he hadn’t scored the goal in the [Champions League] final, I probably wouldn’t be here. For that, and for everything he did for this club, everybody has a lot of affection for him… He’ll play well for sure. Let’s hope he doesn’t score but if he does, he can [celebrate] however he wants!”
