Real Madrid News
Vicente del Bosque talks Real Madrid, Ancelotti: “A team with very good players”
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, former Real Madrid and Spain manager has given his opinion on the current Los Blancos side.
Del Bosque was the manager of Real Madrid between 1999 and 2003. Prior to that, he had two separate stints as caretaker boss of the Spanish capital club. During his reign, the Merengues won two La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
Del Bosque also led the Spanish national team to their first and only FIFA World Cup triumph in 2010 and followed that up with the UEFA Euro 2012 triumph.
The 71-year-old, who retired from management in 2016, is seen as a legend at Real Madrid and has now given his two cents on the current setup under manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking highly of the reigning champions of Spain and Europe, Del Bosque said: “Every time I see them play I say to myself that they can’t lose that game, and I’m almost always right.
“It’s a team with very good, dynamic players, and in midfield the reliability of Kroos and Modric, who are vital to the team.”
And when asked about his thoughts on Ancelotti, the World Cup-winning manager said: “He represents the club very well.”
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid started the season strongly, winning the UEFA Super Cup and going on an unbeaten run in all competitions until late October.
However, just before the World Cup break, the Merengues’ form seemed to be on the downward curve as they allowed Barcelona to take the lead in the La Liga title race.
Currently, Real Madrid are two points behind their arch-rivals in the standings and will look to cut down into the gap when they resume their La Liga campaign against Real Valladolid on December 30.
Before he was hired by Bayern Munich as the direct replacement for Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel was closely linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
The German tactician had kept a close eye on the development at Santiago Bernabeu, especially with coach Carlo Ancelotti facing immense pressure following the club’s poor performances in domestic competitions.
A recent report from Jorge Picon has offered more details on the Tuchel saga, suggesting that the coach was even learning Spanish during his time at Ibiza, anticipating a potential move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
There were even contacts made between Tuchel’s entourage and Real Madrid. Although the talks were positive, the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.
Real Madrid did not guarantee him the job. They had informed Tuchel that Ancelotti may continue at the Bernabeu in the event the club win the UEFA Champions League this season.
This bit of uncertainty played a critical role in convincing Tuchel to join Bayern Munich instead. The former Chelsea boss was hired as a direct replacement for Nagelsmann, who was sacked after a poor season in the Bundesliga by the club’s high standards.
However, Tuchel’s move to Bayern appears to be a missed opportunity on the German’s part, as Real Madrid have recently intensified their search for a new manager.
It is clear that the club’s hierarchy is yet to reach a consensus over the future of Ancelotti, with some believing that a change is necessary come the end of the season. In fact, the club’s president Florentino Perez has been an admirer of Tuchel’s compatriot Nagelsmann.
The coaching prodigy is one of the candidates to replace Ancelotti in the summer, though it is Mauricio Pochettion who is reportedly leading the race so far.
