Real Madrid is having a strange season. After replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso last summer, the Madrid club quickly realized that the former midfielder was not the man for the job. Incapable of managing the egos of the locker room, the former Bayer Leverkusen coach was unable to respond to the political game that entails this role among the Merengues. From then on, he was replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, who did a generally honorable job. Despite several disappointments which provoked the ire of supporters, the former right defender has allowed his players to establish a positive dynamic in recent weeks.
Having notably succeeded in taming Manchester City (3-0) in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League despite a cascade of injuries, Real Madrid continued the weekend with a convincing success against Elche (4-1). In good shape and supported by individuals at the level (Valverde, Tchouaméni, Vinicius Jr), Real Madrid is now aiming for something for the end of the season. And while the Arbeloa formula now seems anchored in the locker room, this renewed form will have to be confirmed with important returns in the coming weeks (Mbappé, Bellingham, Militão). In the meantime, this young generation of Real, sometimes frustrating, was able to count on the support of Carlo Ancelotti. Now Brazil coach, Ancelotti still looks at Real Madrid. And the least we can say is that the former Chelsea and PSG coach is calm about the future of the White House, as he admitted to Marca.
Carlo Ancelotti asks for time for Real Madrid’s younger generation
Asked by the Iberian media about his proximity to the Madrid club, the Italian technician did not hide the fact that he was still close to Real Madrid and that he observes the club’s matches almost like a supporter: “I live peacefully because everything lasts for a while. I have fantastic memories of my very long time at Real Madrid and an extraordinary affection for the club and those who work there. Today, I am engaged in another project and I live it with the same intensity. When Real Madrid play, I’m always at the stadium, not only to see the Brazilians, but also to see Real Madrid and help them win. I still talk to a few people at the club. After the match against Manchester City, I congratulated the club and the president. I also speak with the players. I spoke with Rodrygo the other day to check on him. I am in contact with them.
Criticized last season for his inability to find the right formula despite the arrival with great fanfare of Kylian Mbappé, Ancelotti explained that the difficulties he had, and which are still perceptible, are normal. After a great period of domination and a wave of important departures, Real just need time to rebuild around a young generation who are brilliant in their eyes: “football evolves for nothing, and with it, team dynamics. It’s not just about the atmosphere, or even the simple replacement of Kroos by Mbappé. That same year, Nacho left, Carvajal was injured and Modric saw his playing time decrease. The old generation, who had brought a fantastic atmosphere to the dressing room, had disappeared, and a new generation of players had to take over, bringing character, personality and leading by example. This doesn’t happen overnight: it takes time. The arrival of Mbappé coincided with two important departures, those of Kroos and Nacho, creating a different atmosphere. Mbappé performed exceptionally well, scoring around 50 goals, but the team struggled to win titles because football is about small details, and changing something doesn’t always work perfectly.” You will have understood, Ancelotti is calm about the future of Real Madrid. And even if things don’t go well, he’s never far away from running for, why not, a third term on the Real bench.
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