Real Madrid News
Real Madrid considering Champions League-winning coach to replace Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid has come under doubt after a string of underwhelming results in 2023. The Spanish outfit are still alive in three competitions, but are not favourites for any of them.
The last two losses against Barcelona did not go down well with the Madrid management, either. That coupled with the fact that they are now 12 points adrift of the Catalans has stirred some doubts.
As such, Madrid have started outlining possible replacements for the Italian coach.
Some of the options on their table so far are the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Oliver Glasner, Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid Castilla’s Raul and Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel is naturally the most convincing out of the three, with a spectacular record in European football. The German coach reached two consecutive Champions League finals – with PSG and Chelsea -, winning in his second attempt while beating Manchester City.
There were talks surrounding that Tuchel would not work out for Real Madrid, but ABC (h/t Madrid Xtra) have dusted those, suggesting that Los Blancos are looking for a ‘winner’, and the former Borussia Dortmund has proven to be one.
The report also suggests that Florentino Perez is a big fan of Xabi Alonso, while club CEO Jose Angel Sanchez, prefers Raul as the next Madrid manager.
Apart from winning the UCL with Chelsea, he has also lifted the DFB Pokal with Dortmund in 2017, two league titles with PSG, and the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea.
Further, there have been reports in the past suggesting that Tuchel is now ready to return to coaching and is favouring a move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid as his next destination.
It would be fair to rule out Barcelona, though, with Xavi leading the project. Joan Laporta has already publicly spoken about renewing the Spaniard.
Madrid have a fair few holes to plug in their squad ahead of next season, but all of it will depend on their managerial position, and if they choose to get a new man for the role.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender takes major step towards comeback; set for return after international break
Real Madrid are finally beginning to see a clear path back for Eder Militao, with the defender now in the final phase of his rehabilitation and increasingly expected to return after the next international break.
Militao has been sidelined since suffering a tear to the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during the meeting with Alaves last April.
The injury required surgery, but his recovery has now reached a stage where his return can be discussed in more concrete terms.
Militao steps up rehabilitation at Valdebebas
While Real Madrid completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s trip to Elche, Militao was working separately from the main group at the Valdebebas Training Centre.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian defender carried out specific exercises with the club’s rehabilitation staff and physiotherapists on pitches 1 and 2.
The work represents another step in a recovery process that has kept him away from competitive action for several months.
Mind you, Militao will not be involved against Elche, but the latest signs are considerably more encouraging for what comes next.
Return now expected after international break
The timeline surrounding Militao’s comeback is finally becoming clearer. Provided his recovery continues at its current pace, Real Madrid expect the centre-back to be available to Mourinho once the international break is over.
That break is scheduled to take place from the end of September into the first week of October, meaning Militao could be back by mid-October at the latest.
For a defender who has endured another significant spell on the sidelines, simply having a defined target gives an important moment in his rehabilitation.
Real Madrid still missing players
Militao’s progress is particularly welcome because Real Madrid continue to deal with several absences in the squad.
On that note, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy remain on the injury list and are not expected to return as quickly as Militao.
Both these players are therefore ruled out of the Elche fixture, leaving Mourinho without several established options.
Beyond Elche, though, Militao’s return offers Real Madrid something far more valuable: another experienced defensive option for the demanding weeks ahead.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, the Brazilian is now entering the final stretch, and if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could have their defender back in the squad around the middle of October.
