Real Madrid News
Ancelotti gives full backing to Mourinho’s Real Madrid return: ‘Can do a fantastic job’
Carlo Ancelotti has publicly backed the possible return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid while also defending the mentality and professionalism of the club’s dressing room.
Now managing the Brazil national football team, Ancelotti spoke to The Athletic about several topics related to his time at Real Madrid, including criticism often directed at the players.
During the interview, Ancelotti strongly dismissed suggestions that the Real Madrid players lack discipline or ignore tactical instructions from the coaching staff.
“It gives the impression that Real Madrid’s players do whatever they want. That’s not true. It’s complete nonsense. That’s not true!
“The players… when I was there, I had an idea, and I tried to discuss it with them to see if they agreed or not. We even did that in the Champions League final.”
His management of the Madrid squad
The former Real Madrid coach also explained that communication and collaboration with players formed an important part of his management style during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“When I have an idea, the player has to be part of it. I don’t want to impose a strategy. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a strategy.”
He then defended the tactical structure behind Real Madrid’s recent success, adding,
“We had a strategy, and a solid one, because we won two Champions Leagues in four years, and the players were very focused on following it and sticking to the plan.
“The idea that Real Madrid don’t want to follow a strategy isn’t true.”
Rebuilding after losing key leaders
While defending the squad, Ancelotti also admitted that Real Madrid are currently dealing with an important transition period after the departures of several experienced figures in recent years.
The Italian highlighted the exits of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Nacho Fernandez as major losses both on and off the pitch.
“Real Madrid’s difficulties… the older generation of players needs to rebuild. In recent years, Real Madrid has lost some very important players: Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Benzema, and Nacho.
“The atmosphere in the squad is important. It comes from these players, who have more character, more personality and more leadership.”
He also added that he believes “Real Madrid needs time to rebuild that atmosphere in the squad, which previously brought them so much success.”
Lastly, with Mourinho continuing to be heavily linked with a return to Real Madrid ahead of next season, Ancelotti also made it clear that he fully supports the possibility of the Portuguese coach taking charge again.
“I’m absolutely delighted that he’s returning to Real Madrid. He can do a fantastic job, just as he always has at every club he’s been at,” he added.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
