Celtic v Real Madrid: Can hosts frustrate Carlo Ancelotti again in Champions League?

The caption was short and to the point. Carlo Ancelotti wore sunglasses and puffed on a cigar while posing for a picture with a group of players in May.

His CV got a boost from the latest trophy in his collection. In his first year in Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti became the only coach to win the title in all of Europe's big five leagues.

He added a record 14th crown for Real and an unprecedented fourth for the 63-year-old, with two each at the Spanish giants and AC Milan. He won two with Milan.

There is a lot of honours and personal awards in a career. Since joining Milan, he has never won at Celtic Park.

It's an itch he gets the chance to scratch on Tuesday when he brings Real to Glasgow for a group opener that has the city abuzz with excitement.

'He gives players responsibility'

"No, I don't smoke cigars," said the coach after seeing the cigar-toting picture on the social networking site. I took a photo with my friends. These people are my friends.

The Italian's philosophy has given him longevity at the very top of the game. The players like him because he's not just a manager. They would like to play for him.

One artful arched eyebrow can speak a thousand words, and that's what Carlo Ancelotti encourages.

Englishman Paul Clement knows the Italian's methods in intricate detail, having served as his assistant at several clubs.

Clement praises Ancelotti as "by far the greatest influence on my career" and provided insight into his man-management to Coaches' Voice in 2019.

The scene was the night before the 2010 FA Cup final as Chelsea, having sealed the title with an 8-0 demolition of Wigan, were preparing to face Pompey.

Clement stated that the room fell silent. The players were rendered silent by a question they had never answered before.

The last game of the season is what Ancelotti said. We know what we can do and what we can't. Do you think the tactics should be different?

A group of players who were not renowned for being shy were silenced. They weren't used to being asked what they thought. After a while, baffled expressions turned into thoughts, and then the hands went up.

We had lists of defending and attacking points. It was all done. The team talk was finished and the players delivered the next day. A historic double and a player led approach.

It can be difficult for coaches to give that responsibility to the players. Ultimately that is what it is all about.

In Real's semi-final against Manchester City last season, the ethos was evident as the team came back from a 2-0 deficit to win.

The idea that a sharp tactical mind is not complemented by a laissez-faire outlook is laughable.

On the eve of the final, he said he saw the same thing with Heynckes. It's a shame that Heynckes and Ancelotti are no longer considered "wardrobe managers". I don't believe that they are treated fairly. They don't know how to use tactics.

They are very clear about what they want their teams to do. When people talk about them, that's usually left out.

Carlo taught me a lot. I learned a lot from him. He dealt with a lot of people. He made them feel welcome. The best out of them was obtained by him.

'Complicated environment' - Ancelotti's three fruitless Celtic Park visits

Thirty years later, his approach to coaching still reaps rewards.

Having begun the season by winning the European Super Cup and opening La Liga with four straight victories, Real's band of superstars descend on Glasgow.

They've been warned. In Celtic Park, where he has been burned before, he has spoken of being careful.

Celtic dropped out of Europe in 2004 because of a goalless draw with Milan in the group stage of the European competition.

Gordon Strachan was the Celtic manager in the last 16 and another stalemate. The only goal of the tie came in extra-time at San Siro, as the Rossoneri were able to survive. It was the biggest challenge they faced on the way to the trophy.

Celtic avenged their loss to European champion by defeating them in the last 16 by a score of 1-2. Do you remember that game? The Celtic fan ran on to the pitch and gave Dida a light tap.

There were heady days for Celtic. The atmosphere on European nights is still goosebump-inducing, but Parkhead is no longer the fortress it used to be.

Since the famous win over Barcelona, Celtic have lost seven of their nine home games in the group stage of the competition. The defeats were a whitewash by Milan and a loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

In Celtic's five-year absence from the group stages of the European Championship, several teams took at least a draw from Parkhead.

Celtic won eight of their 12 group-stage home matches in the secondary competition.

The first season in charge by Ange Postecolgou, Celtic were thumped at home by Bayer Leverkusen but rebounded to win over Real Betis and Ferencvaros. Bodo/Glimt defeated Glasgow in the knockout round.

Celtic have come a long way in a short period of time under Postecoglou, who is targeting European improvement with a strengthened squad boasting strength in depth.

The Australian is going to stick to his guns on the European stage. This time, don't expect a boring game.