Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s four-man shortlist if Ancelotti leaves in the summer – report
As we approach the final phase of the 2022/23 campaign, there is a lot of noise surrounding the future of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian tactician looked untouchable last year when he guided the team to La Liga, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup trophies.
However, missteps in the league has seen Los Blancos fall behind arch-rivals Barcelona by nine points and the title is already looking lost. Meanwhile, the Spanish capital club are also trailing in the Copa del Rey semi-final against the Blaugrana.
Real Madrid are still in a good position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. But failure to win any major trophy this season could see the club part ways with Ancelotti, despite his contract running until 2024.
Amidst this, SportBILD is reporting that Real Madrid already have a four-man managerial shortlist prepared in case Ancelotti’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu comes to an end this season.
Thomas Tuchel is one of the names under consideration at Real Madrid as per the report. The German tactician is currently unattached after being sacked by Chelsea earlier this season.
The former Borussia Dortmund and PSG boss is believed to be keen on the job, with reports suggesting that he is already learning Spanish to prepare himself for the opportunity.
Another former PSG boss, Mauricio Pochettino, is believed to be on the list of the Merengues. The Argentine excelled during his time at Tottenham but his stint in Paris was far from memorable. But his stock remains high and Real Madrid view him as a possible contender.
Real Madrid are also looking at former midfielder and club legend Xabi Alonso as a potential managerial candidate should Ancelotti depart. The Spaniard is doing excellent things in his maiden job as a first-team manager at Bayer Leverkusen.
The 41-year-old spent time as a youth coach at Real Madrid for a year and trained the Real Sociedad B team for a period as well. He knows the club ethos and philosophy in and out, which makes him an option despite his lack of experience.
Finally, Real Madrid are also looking at Castilla manager Raul Gonzalez as a serious candidate to replace Ancelotti. The club legend has done a fine job with the club’s reserve team over the past couple of seasons.
People within the Real Madrid offices believe he is ready to take over as the first-team manager if Ancelotti is no longer in charge come summer.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
