Real Madrid: The pros and cons of sticking with Carlo Ancelotti next season
THE PROS
Carlo Ancelotti’s name is synonymous with success
Ancelotti has always had a prosperous and wealthy management career, having worked with various top clubs in Europe. The Italian entered the game as a midfielder, and not just any player, but a phenomenal one. Running with a plethora of domestic and European medals under his belt, the maestro was always eager to add to his collection, but this time as a manager.
Indeed, the boss has a history of winning. His football approach is characterised by dynamism and a wealth of expertise. Ancelotti has only lost 222 of the 1160 matches he has coached, with victories accounting for around 60% of the total. Carletto’s magic and supremacy have been witnessed in every competent league in Europe, and some of that glory has also been shared with Real Madrid.
During his first stint with Los Blancos, the team won the coveted La Decima as well as numerous other titles. Now, back in Madrid, he has won silverware once more, this time the Spanish Super Cup, while the league crown is on its way, assisted by an astonishing run in the Champions League.
The mentality he carries is seldom a sight, and it is definitely an advantage to have him for another season.
Attacking football is in Ancelotti’s veins, which helps Real Madrid
One of Ancelotti’s cornerstones, which sets him apart from many other coaches in the world, is his ability to adapt to different formations based on the team’s structure and player features. When managers switch teams, adjusting to new approaches on the field is frequently an issue, which leads to a dissatisfying coaching tenure, but such is not the case with Ancelotti.
Upon rejoining Real Madrid, he has been concerned with improving the wide players on the pitch and trying to equip them with shot volume, which may be why he actually likes Marco Asensio more than any other right-winger.
He has also offered the full-backs greater freedom to create forward runs and assist the three in the offensive third by swimming crosses into the opposing box.
Real Madrid have scored a total of 56 goals in the current season, with almost a dozen games still to be played solely in the league, averaging 2.07 goals per game. In comparison, the team could only score 67 goals in the previous season under Zidane, averaging 1.76 per game. It is evident how Ancelotti has rejuvenated Real’s offensive capabilities.
This type of play would only become more successful with the arrival of the world’s finest winger at the moment, Kylian Mbappe, and is therefore a compelling incentive to keep Ancelotti.
Carlo Ancelotti is great at keeping people’s egos in check
It goes without saying that when you supervise elites all around the world, you have to deal with raging egos and pride, and managing them is a discipline that the Italian has in spades. Ancelotti has educated some major players who have a fragile image in public and private circles.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, and a slew of other big names have thrived under Ancelotti, which would not have been possible if he had not maintained positive ties with them.
Ancelotti has worked with a number of prominent footballers throughout his tenures at Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG, and Bayern Munich, among others. In reality, the manager has cultivated friendships with several of them, including James Rodriguez, who was the manager’s absolute favourite and trailed him wherever he walked.
Real Madrid’s most likely first signing of the next season would be Kylian Mbappe, who might be followed by Erling Haaland, and once again, two superstars together could result in a blunder if a competent mediator is not there.