Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is known as a manager for his highly successful managerial career. He has won a total of three Champions League titles as a manager, a feat that has been equaled only by Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane. He has won a league title in four of the five top-6 European leagues, and it would be a record if he wins the LaLiga title in Spain.
As fans, we know him for his attacking tactics and his successful career. But players, who see him every day at the training complex, know him for his other side, his human side. We only get to see him standing on the sidelines with a raised eyebrow, but the players get to see him in the dressing room. And for most of the players who have played under him, he isn’t just a manager, he is something more than that.
Ancelotti may appear like a serious personality on the sidelines, but he is a very friendly and humble person, as per the words of some of the players who played under him. He has an excellent rapport with his players and has great clarity of thought, which has helped the players discover the best version of themselves under his coaching. This is something that can be understood from the respect some of his former players have for him.
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo had spoken about Carlo Ancelotti in the past and revealed how much he missed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, during the next season after the Italian’s sacking. He described him as a great person who would talk with every player every day, and also a person with whom you could have a lot of fun.
His relationship with the players isn’t just limited to four walls. He always protects his players from any sort of external pressure or criticism, something which just gives us a clear picture of his personality. Even this season, he has defended Gareth Bale after his agent’s words stirred a controversy. And there’s another recent incident which just shows us why he’s the ultimate player’s coach.
Carlo Ancelotti came to Karim Benzema’s defense after missed penalty
As everyone knows, Karim Benzema missed a penalty against Elche on Sunday, an incident that heavily influenced the result of the game. It was Benzema’s first penalty miss for Real Madrid, but it was a costly moment and there is always a possibility of a player facing some criticism for a penalty miss. But Carlo Ancelotti defended Benzema and took the responsibility for the miss before fingers were pointed towards the Frenchman. He took the blame on himself and said:
"“Benzema missing the penalty was my fault. I told him that opponents are analyzing his penalties and that he should change the direction. He changed it and missed it. I should have stayed quiet.”"
A gesture like this is enough for Carlo to command the respect of every player. A player never wants to be thrown under the bus, and just wants to be forgiven for a mistake under them. But when the manager publicly defends a player by taking responsibility, the bond between the manager and a player becomes unbreakable.
I don’t know how many more days Carlo Ancelotti will stay at Real Madrid. But I’m sure that the Real Madrid dressing room will always be in happy spirits and would always be willing to play for their manager, until the final day of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign at Los Blancos.