Real Madrid News
Video: Carlo and Davide Ancelotti’s brilliant plan leading to Alaba’s winner vs Almeria
The manager’s understanding of his players’ abilities is vital for any top football club. This trait is further amplified when the coach can motivate his men and believes in their quality.
When Real Madrid desperately needed a second goal against Almeria, all eyes were on Carlo Ancelotti to see what solution he could conjure. Once again, the manager showed the world why he is one of the best in the business.
In the 75th minute, Los Blancos won a free kick just outside the Andalusians’ box. Sighting the possibility of an opening, Davide Ancelotti immediately discussed the possibility of involving David Alaba with his father.
The Austrian was rushed onto the field in a hurried substitution and, just seconds later, scored the winning free-kick for Real Madrid.
🚨🚨🚨 كاميرا خاصة |
— RM4arabMedia (@RM4ArabMedia) August 14, 2022
📽️ قصة هدف ألابا كاملة | طلب ديفيد أنشيلوتي إشراك ألابا ، وطلب ديفيد وكارلو من ألابا تسديدة الكرة الثابتة ونجاح الأخير وفرحة الجميع وإحتفالهم مع ديفيد. pic.twitter.com/NKSdVIZMcK
After the game, Alaba revealed that it was the manager who instilled confidence in him to take the free kick on the night.
“Before I came on, Ancelotti told me to take the free kick because I’d score it. After the goal he said to me: ‘Look, I told you’,” the Austrian said.
Not only is this incident a testament to Alaba’s brilliant set-piece abilities but also to Ancelotti’s trust in his players. It is not surprising that the Italian has seen so much success in his professional career.
Ancelotti has been nominated for UEFA’s Best Men’s Coach award for the season 2021-22. He will compete with the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, but is widely touted as the favourite to walk away with the award.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
