Before the 2021-2022 season began, I wrote an important article explaining why Real Madrid decided to hire Carlo Ancelotti over the other options. Los Blancos wanted to bring in someone safe who could keep the team competitive, have the respect of the core, smooth things over with the disgruntled veterans like Isco and Gareth Bale, and have the charisma and creativity to get the most out of the developing youngsters in the squad.
Ancelotti’s appointment is all about setting the table for the future. He is here to bridge eras for Real Madrid and put the team in a better place to compete for trebles in the future, because there is an acknowledgment that the project isn’t nearly finished yet.
As such, Ancelotti’s most important task in taking this job went beyond the wins and losses. Yes, the goal is to win trophies in Madrid, and Ancelotti has a real chance to hoist silverware this season, seeing as how Los Blancos have been the best team in the league through 12 Matchdays.
But the priority for Ancelotti is leaving this club in a better place than when he first took the job. To that extent, the development of the young players is most important, especially the ones who are supposed to make the leap to stardom.
Vinicius Junior’s growth puts the Real Madrid project in an excellent position
The most important of those players, Vinicius Junior, has already made that leap. He already has 14 goal contributions in all competitions and has been right there with Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah as one of the world’s elite inverted wingers. Vinicius was once floated by PSG in swap offers for Kylian Mbappe, which Real Madrid steadfastly refused. And now we see why.
Nobody deserves more credit for his success than Vinicius. I need to make that abundantly clear before I offer Ancelotti any praise. Vini’s hard work, passion, dedication, and talent have all come together perfectly. He has found himself and is displaying the kind of confidence that only the great ones can. The numbers speak for themselves, but even when he does not score or assist, he makes a clear difference for Los Blancos.
Here’s where Ancelotti comes in. Ancelotti helped give Vinicius the confidence he needed. The manager saw that Vini had all the technical qualities necessary. He just told him to stop overthinking, take fewer touches, and trust himself. Vini has done just that, and the results have been astonishing. For all of Real’s flaws, Vini’s brilliance has helped carry the team through results, such as three points last weekend at Elche or last Wednesday vs. Shakhtar.
Ancelotti deserves credit for that. His main job is to put this team in a better position for the next several years, and by already helping boost Vinicius into star status and a step closer to fulfilling his Ballon d’Or-level potential, Ancelotti has helped the team in the biggest way possible. Vini’s success is sustainable and vital to Real Madrid over the long term, in addition to being crucial to the team’s chances in LaLiga and the Champions League this season.
So give Ancelotti major credit for checking this off his list. There is more work to be done, yes. But before you get overly critical of Ancelotti, remember that he holds an unselfish role right now that is more about long-term progress than short-term results. Vinicius’ emerging greatness will help the club for the next decade. If Ancelotti can bring the best out of more youngsters, such as Rodrygo Goes and Eduardo Camavinga, then the future will be even brighter at the Santiago Bernabeu. Now, if only he could find more minutes for the Castilla products…