Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizes for forgetting German on his Bayern Munich return

MUNICH (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has apologized upon his return to Bayern Munich for not remembering his German.

“Ich habe vergessen Deutsch (I have forgotten German),” the Italian coach said on Monday in his only words in that language, albeit with the word order mixed up, before the teams meet on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.

Ancelotti coached Bayern for just over a year during 2016-17 and won the Bundesliga, but the league title alone is not always enough to sate ambitions at the Bavarian powerhouse.

Bayern had won the previous four Bundesligas. After Ancelotti made it five in a row, Bayern won the next six.

Ancelotti was forced out after a shaky start to the 2017-18 season. Losing to Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 was the final straw for club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t as successful back then as he is now at Real,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said on Monday.

Under Ancelotti, Bayern’s Champions League ambitions were ended by Madrid in the quarterfinals. Borussia Dortmund knocked his team out of the German Cup, leaving just the Bundesliga.

“One title is a bit scant for us,” Bayern president Uli Hoeneß said at the time.

Ancelotti departed the club that September, his reputation tarnished after failing in the previous season in the Champions League, a competition he had won three times before.

But Ancelotti said on Monday he had only fond memories of his time in Munich.

“I was fortunate to be coach of this club. It could have been for longer, yes, but otherwise it was a nice time," he said. “I have fantastic memories and remember it with a lot of affection.”

The Italian, who led Madrid to the 2014 Champions League title, returned to the Spanish giant in 2021 after stints in charge of Napoli and Everton. He won the Champions League again in 2022, his fourth success as coach including the two titles won with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.

“He’s been successful almost everywhere he’s been,” Kimmich noted.

Ancelotti has won domestic honors with Milan, Madrid, Chelsea, Paris-Saint-Germain and Bayern.

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel also praised his counterpart on Monday.

“What Carlo has done for football as a player and as a coach is at the highest level. Yet he’s always very polite and humble, it’s extraordinary,” Tuchel said. “He’s on the verge of the next (Spanish) championship and he's in the Champions League semifinals. Carlo exudes a fatherly air, that’s one of his great strengths.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, left, talks to Eder Militao during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, left, talks to Eder Militao during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, center, talks to his assistant coaches during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, waits besides his son, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, second left, for a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

DALLAS (AP) — Colorado finally got to play with the lead against the Dallas Stars, though the Avalanche are still behind in the series.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored two goals, the second after Casey Mittelstadt’s go-ahead tally in the third period, and they beat top-seeded Dallas 5-3 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Avs snapped their three-game losing streak and extended the second-round Western Conference series.

“Obviously a do-or-die game from here on out in the series,” Makar said. “Each of us, we feed off each other. ... And I felt like we were back to kind of like forcing their hand tonight.”

When Mittelstadt scored just 1:12 into the third period to make it 3-2, it was the first time the Avalanche had led in the series except for when Miles Wood scored 11 minutes into overtime to win the series opener.

“It was great,” league MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon said about playing with a lead. “They didn’t do that much, but anytime we can get a lead it’s important so we’re not chasing all series.”

Makar made it 4-2 with an unassisted goal just over three minutes later. His shot from the middle of the right circle went through the legs of goalie Jake Oettinger and proved to be the deciding goal and MacKinnon scored on a lone assist from Artturi Lehkonen with 3:10 left.

MacKinnon also had the only assist on Lehkonen’s power-play goal in the very last second of the first period.

“We knew we were going to get their best game in the series, and they did,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Their big guys all are on the scoresheet tonight, which we’ve probably anticipated would happen.”

Avalanche goalie Alexander Georgiev had 23 saves. Oettinger stopped 22 shots.

Joe Pavelski had his first goal of these playoffs for the Stars, and had his second assist this postseason. Miro Heiskanen and rookie Logan Stankoven also scored for Dallas, and Jason Robertson had two assists.

Game 6 is Friday night in Colorado, where the Stars outscored the Avs 9-2 while winning Games 3 and 4. Dallas is 4-1 on the road this postseason — and 3-4 at home.

This was the sixth time in franchise history that the Avs won Game 5 after falling behind 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. They have never come back to win the series.

After going 0 for 8 on power plays while losing the previous three games, Colorado scored tying goals on both of its opportunities with a man advantage in the first two periods.

“I felt like once we were getting pucks, it was right on and off the stick, and trying to avoid a little bit of the pressure,” Makar said, when asked what changed in Game 5. “Having that different mentality, an attack mentality, and not trying to back down or trying to look for the perfect play.”

Makar got his power-play goal on a 50-foot wrister through a bunch of traffic in front of the net with 3 1/2 minutes left in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

“Tough-go for a handful of games ... it’s a huge response after goal one, after goal two,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.

Mittelstadt’s go-ahead goal came after Zach Parise hit the puck across the crease and Mittelstadt knocked it in, a ricochet off the right post that hit the back of Oettinger’s leg and went in.

Pavelski scored on a backhander from just outside the crease after a pass from Matt Duchene midway through the first period, after Robertson had poked the puck away from defenseman Josh Manson.

After 14 games without a goal, including the last three games of the regular season, Pavelski got his 74th career playoff goal to extend his record for the most by a U.S-born player. That is also the most by any active player.

Colorado got even at 1-1 with 0.6 seconds left in the first period on Lehkonen’s slap shot from the top of the slot.

“You’ve got to get out of the period there,” DeBoer said.

Heiskanen scored his fourth goal in this series, and his fifth of the playoffs, put Dallas up 2-1 in the second. He dropped the puck back to Pavelski, who passed ahead to Robertson, who made a move toward the right side of the net before a nifty crossing pass to Heiskanen on the other side of Georgiev on a power play.

Rantanen had the secondary assist on Makar’s first goal for his 100th career playoff point (33 goals and 67 assists). It came in his 80th career postseason game, making him only the eighth NHL player to reach that milestone in that many games or fewer. He is only the fourth player in Avalanche franchise history to reach 100 playoff points — Joe Sakic’s 188 tops that list.

It was Bednar’s 49th playoff victory, matching Bob Hartley for the most in franchise history. Both have led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles, Hartley in 2001 and then Bednar their next one in 2022.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, watches the puck after his shot was blocked by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A shot by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, not visible, gets by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) for a goal during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29), Jonathan Drouin (27), Devon Toews (7), Artturi Lehkonen (62) and Cale Makar (8) react after Makar scored a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, top, during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) reacts after teammate defenseman Cale Makar (8) scored a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Thomas Harley (55) and Tyler Seguin (91). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) and Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) compete for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) falls on the ice while challenging Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) for the puck during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) chase after the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) reacts after receiving a high stick from Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev (3) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar passes the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) eyes the puck after a power play scoring shot by teammate Cale Makar, not visible, during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Jake Oettinger (29) and Esa Lindell (23). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) skates by his bench after scoring a power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) celebrates his first period goal with Miro Heiskanen, left, and Ryan Suter in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars players celebrate a goal by Joe Pavelski, center, during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)