Real Madrid News
Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid because they needed ‘the best’ coach
Carlo Ancelotti will go down as one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever managers. Deputed as the coach of one of football’s most successful clubs, the Italian managed to take the Spanish side to glory in two different stints.
In Apple TV’s documentary Real Madrid: Until the end, Ancelotti reveals the story behind his return to the Galacticos for a second managerial spell and how the move stemmed out of an unexpected call.
“I called Real Madrid at the end of the season, I was coaching Everton. I asked if they have any players they didn’t want. Then I realised they were looking for a coach, I said ‘Real Madrid always need the best’ they asked who is that? I said ‘did you forget about 2014’.”
At the time, the Italian tactician had just guided Everton to a tenth-place finish in the Premier League that year.
His conversation with the CEO of Real Madrid, Jose Angel Sanchez, happened to venture into the topic of Real Madrid’s hunt for Zinedine Zidane’s replacement, and Ancelotti’s casual offer to take over became a serious consideration.
Three days later, he was revealed as the Merengues‘ new coach. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ancelotti’s first spell with Real Madrid lasted 693 days, from June 2013 until his sacking in May 2015.
He failed to win La Liga in both his seasons at the club but won the Copa del Rey in 2013/14. He also ended the club’s 12-year drought in the UCL by guiding the men in white to European success in his first season.
Since his appointment in 2021, he has only gone on to add more accolades to his CV, guiding them to La Liga and the Champions League. However, his future beyond this season is under doubt given the team’s inconsistent performance.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid locker room angry with Barcelona midfielder’s ‘unsportsmanlike’ behaviour – report
While the evident frustration among the Real Madrid players was quite visible following the recent 1-2 defeat against Barcelona, the feeling of vexation was not really limited on the field.
Journalist Mario Cortegana, while writing for The Athletic, has confirmed that once the players got into the dressing room, the environment had an air of anger and frustration.
Players from each team had a go at each other right till the end, especially the likes of Dani Carvajal and Arnau Tenas, who had to be separated by several members from both teams.
Interestingly, before the aforementioned incident, Barcelona midfielder Gavi was already causing some trouble on the field. The youngster did not shy away from putting his body on the line throughout the game and it annoyed Madrid players to the extreme.
First, he pushed Carvajal in one incident and after that, he entangled himself in an off-the-ball clash with Dani Ceballos. The Madrid midfielder first had a collision with Robert Lewandowski and as the game moved on, Gavi made note of the incident.
During the run of play, Gavi pushed Ceballos with his shoulder and it did not settle well with the Madrid players and manager Carlo Ancelotti. The players and the manager were disturbed by Gavi’s behaviour and considered it ‘unsportsmanlike’.
On the other hand, there was frustration involving refereeing decisions as well. It must be remembered that in the 82nd minute, Marco Asensio found the back of the net to send the Madrid fans into a frenzy.
The celebration, however, was cut short as VAR disallowed the goal for an extremely tight offside. “We are sad, frustrated,” a dressing room source told The Athletic. “What happened? A guy looking at a TV in Madrid has decided La Liga.”
Ancelotti, on his part, said: “The disallowed goal? I don’t know, I really don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m leaving with this doubt. If the VAR is sure.”
“I leave this match very proud. I don’t think we deserved to lose today,” he added.
Sampson
March 11, 2023 at 10:26 am
Real Madrid always go for the best, the records are there (Zidane and Ancelotti). I wish the best for the current campaign (2022/2023) UCL, also the laliga competition.