Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti Cavaliere OMRI, Ufficiale OSI is an Italian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Real Madrid. Nicknamed “Carletto” in Italy and “Don Carlo” in Spain, he is regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time

In addition to internal pressures, a contract with Xabi Alonso, the current coach, looms on the horizon. To the German club Bayer Leverkusen, which is one of the options that the club is considering, and if Ancelotti fails to achieve strong results, he may be replaced by Alonso in the near future.

Concerns about a lack of depth in defence have been exacerbated once again this season following injuries to Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, while David Alaba made it back to the bench in the Super Cup final for the first time since tearing his ACL in December 2023.

Ancelotti: This is a press conference, not a debate. I’ve already had the debate with my coaching staff and my players to try and find the best possible solution. I don’t think this is the most appropriate place to have that discussion.

Ancelotti: He needed time to adapt to the team and to get back to his optimum fitness levels. He’s had a few issues that have kept him out a little but now he’s in good form and the team must take advantage of that.

Ancelotti: It’s a crucial aspect of the game. That along with quality is what brings success. You can have individual commitment, but you don’t always manage to make it a collective thing. That’s what we’re lacking. I don’t think any player sets foot on the pitch without having commitment, but the most important thing is our commitment on a collective level.

“We lost a lot of duels. That makes us sad and disappointed, but that’s football. We have to take that sadness home. We have no option but to look forward and prepare for the next game and recover the good form we’d been in,” Ancelotti added.

Flick has won by an aggregate score of 9-2 in his two meetings with Ancelotti. That’s some going.

The managers first met in October last year when Barcelona ran riot at the Santiago Bernabeu and claimed a historic 4-0 away triumph.

Real Madrid recently went in search of revenge in the Spanish Super Cup final, but they were once again outdone by Flick’s side, who won 5-2 on the night.

“I’m very proud of the team, the staff, the club, the fans… everyone who supports Barca. I am proud to manage such an incredible team,” Flick said following Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup triumph.

The Dutch manager faced Ancelotti for the first time earlier this season when Liverpool claimed a 2-0 triumph over their Spanish counterparts.

Despite both Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah missing penalties on the night, goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo ensured the Reds picked up all three point

“He has played more in the last few games and has shown a lot of quality, I really liked him. We have another full-back with whom we have won two Champions Leagues. In some games, Fran, who is offensive, can help more. But Mendy is still a fantastic full-back.”

Things are not going to plan for Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid right now. The Frenchman has lost his shooting boots in recent weeks, but Carlo Ancelotti was keen to shift the focus away from the 25-year-old in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Getafe. A win will see Los Blancos move to within a point of Barcelona with a game in hand, after the leaders lost to Las Palmas.

“We don’t consider it an individual problem for a player who, among other things, is new here, is adapting, has scored eight goals [in La Liga and Champions League] and has participated in our attacking game with assists. We can all do better.

He continued: “My situation is the same as Mbappe’s: I’m trying everything in my power to show the best version of myself. The results say I haven’t been able to do it so far, so I’m not happy.
“Worried? Just enough, because I prefer to handle the situation than worrying about it, and I’m certain that we’re going to fix this, like we’ve always done.”

“We could have shown a better version of ourselves in the game against Liverpool, but let’s not forget that we’re missing many players. Luckily they’re eventually recovering. Rodrygo will be back tomorrow. So, in my opinion, the idea of being patient is the right idea.”

The former Stoke and Newcastle forward had come to Real on a season’s loan from second division Espanyol. Not many would have picked him out as the player to produce some late brilliance. But as a frustrated Ancelotti senior turned to his son on the bench, Davide made his point: “Joselu dai.” Dai, an Italian term, means ‘come on’.

“A clever coach is one who adapts the game to the characteristics of his players. He would be an idiot if, with a forward like Vinicius, who has a motorcycle under his feet, he did not bet on the counter-attack. Another example: if I have Cristiano [Ronaldo], I look for a way to get the ball to him often, I don’t ask him to go back.”

A sports science graduate, he joined his father’s staff at Paris St-Germain. At Bayern Munich, he became his father’s assistant coach. As he often states, his primary role is to offer his father a different tactical perspective. At Real Madrid, his value to the squad has grown more important.

Luka Modric won a free-kick and Davide was seen giving detailed instructions to incoming substitute David Alaba on the sidelines. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema stood over the ball, waiting to unleash the set-piece. Davide interjected. Speaking to his father, Davide made the case for why Alaba had to come on right away and take the free-kick.

It was he who drew inspiration from Arsenal’s approach in the 0-0 Premier League draw against Manchester City in March. He noted how the defensive low block frustrated City. When Real travelled to Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final two and a half weeks later, a gameplan was formed. Ceding possession and playing a defensive minded game allowed them frustrate City. Real still needed a penalty shootout to get through, but they made it.

Davide has shaken off accusations of nepotism, and is now a coach in demand. Just a few days ago, he was linked with the top job at French Ligue 1 club Reims. A decision on his future beckons, but in the meantime, he has yet another Champions League final to prepare for. Will Real win their second European final in three years?

It would be fair to say that Ancelotti has tasted success in his career, both as a player and a manager. Regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, he has won the Champions League four times with two of them coming at Milan.

Even if the 18 months since haven’t exactly reached the same heights, he left Naples this week with pretty incredible figures considering it was his first time playing outside of Georgia or Russia before. He departs Italy with 46 goals and 48 assists in 191 games in all competitions across just two-and-a-half seasons!

In his office at the brand new ultra-modern training ground in Poissy, a southwest suburb of Paris, Enrique has already been working on how to integrate his new No. 7 on the left, the right, as a false 9 or even a No. 10 behind the main forward. He believes “Kvara” can play anywhere.

“For over an hour the team played very well, looking for opportunities in different ways, in transition, filtering passes through the opponent’s lines… The team is improving, it’s good for us because the schedule is very demanding. Sunday’s game (at Atletico Madrid) will also be very demanding.”

“There was no problem with Flick… but one of his assistants did not behave like a gentleman in the celebrations. I told him that, and Flick agreed”, he said.

He downplayed the crowd booing players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe, who have been heavily criticised by fans and pundits over their latest performances, saying his side’s issues are collective rather than individual.