Real Madrid best team in the world, says Carlo Ancelotti

Andy West 08:16 22/12/2014
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  • Global glory: Real Madrid celebrate their Club World Cup victory in Morocco.

    Delighted Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team as the best on the planet after watching them finish a memorable 2014 by lifting the FIFA Club World Cup, their fourth trophy of the year.

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    Having won the Copa del Rey in April, the Champions League in May and the UEFA Super Cup in August, this latest addition to the vast Bernabeu trophy cabinet was always inevitable after Sergio Ramos scored the opener with a first half header.

    Gareth Bale’s second-half strike sealed the deal, and Los Blancos ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against over committed but ulti­mately outclassed Argentine oppo­nents San Lorenzo to take the title.

    “We deserved to win the title,” beamed Ancelotti. “We can say we are the best team in the world and we are really happy with this tro­phy.”

    Ancelotti, who has taken the team to more trophies in the space of eight months than predecessor Jose Mourinho mustered in three years, admitted he is proud of his achievements with the Spanish giants, saying: “2014 has been a fan­tastic and unforgettable year and we hope 2015 is the same.

    “I’m very happy to have arrived at this club and won the Champions League in the first year, and now the Club World Cup. It’s really special.”

    Looking back over the year, Ancelotti believes the Copa del Rey win over Barcelona, which was secured thanks to a sensational late winner from Bale, was the catalyst for the team’s later successes.

    “The key was the first final that we played and won against Barce­lona,” he said. “That gave us a lot of confidence.”

    And with his team currently sitting top of La Liga and into the last 16 of the Champions League and Spanish Cup, Ancelotti will be aiming for more silverware after the two-week Christmas break.

    “We’re a fantastic team and we are happy to have made history, but we want to keep going,” the Italian boss added.

    “We have the chance to compete in all competitions. We have ended the year on a high and we have to feel optimistic ahead of the year to come.”

    Central defender Ramos was named man of the tournament after playing through a hamstring injury to net the opener – just as he did in the semi-final victory over Cruz Azul.

    His involvement in the game was a late decision and he admitted that it was a close call, saying: “Being honest I risked a lot to play, but for­tunately it has not got any worse. It was worth it.”

    In addition to his two goals in this tournament, Ramos also scored twice in his team’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich and once more in the final against Atletico – a crucial injury-time lev­eller to force extra time.

    And the cup king described 2014 as “without a doubt” the best of his career.

    “I won La Decima, which I had been fighting for for so many years,” added the Spain international cen­tre-back.

    “My target is to do my job well in defence, and to also contribute goals is fantastic.”

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