If the speculation that Carlo Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season is true, the “unfinished business” he left behind will be a reality that the next coach will have to face.
Many will ask: is Ancelotti the problem? The answer is not simple.
A shock Champions League exit.
Only last week, Real Madrid failed to turn the tables on Arsenal in the Champions League. After the game, Carlo Ancelotti seemed to suggest that it might be his last Champions League game in charge of Real Madrid. Less than a day later, the media reported that he had just three games left in charge.
The news caused widespread concern, even prompting former Real Madrid star Figo and Barcelona manager Flic to express their support and sympathy for him. It’s not easy for any coach to be under such pressure.
Fans’ disappointment and expectations.
The Real Madrid fans and club officials are disappointed because they had high hopes for this team. This year’s Real Madrid have not only retained most of the starting line-up from the 2024 Champions League winners, but have also brought in world-class star Kylian Mbappe. Such a squad is considered one of the strongest in Europe.
It is only natural, then, that the team’s lack of form has led to questions and criticism. And coach Carlo Ancelotti deserves some of the blame.
But the problem doesn’t lie with him alone.
The lack of reserves exposes the problem.
In fact, Real Madrid’s instability this season has a lot to do with injuries. With several of his first-choice players injured, Ancelotti has been forced to call on youngsters such as Asensio. At the same time, he has often used Valverde and Giovameni as reserve defenders.
It was during this period that the outside world realised that Real Madrid were not as “deep” as they were perceived to be. The Bernabeu’s “galactic battleship” looks like a star that goes from bright to dark – bright but not dazzling.
When right-back Carvajal was injured, for example, Ancelotti turned to Lucas Vazquez. But Lucas is a winger by trade, and although he tried his best at right-back, he was clearly not the ideal candidate.
At left-back, Ferran Mendy and Fran Garcia have come and gone, but neither has been consistent enough and fans are growing increasingly concerned.
Biggest problem: Loss of balance in midfield.
Real Madrid’s biggest problem, however, is not the team but the creativity in midfield. The departure of Toni Kroos was a blow. Kroos was not only a master passer, but also a commanding presence in midfield.
Former Real Madrid coach Capello once said that without Kroos, Real Madrid were like a machine that had lost its core parts. He is both the engine of the attack and the invisible shield of the defence. When he was there, the team’s rhythm was more stable and better organised.
Since Kroos’ departure, Real Madrid’s midfield has been disoriented. In many games, the team’s coordination seemed chaotic and disorganised, even relying on individual players to win.
Does Carlo Ancelotti deserve the blame?
In terms of results, Carlo Ancelotti hasn’t completely failed. Real Madrid are still in the title race in La Liga and the Copa del Rey. But many of their victories have come as a result of individual performances rather than the team as a whole.
Can Carlo Ancelotti solve so many problems in one season? The reality is that time is not on his side.
When a team has problems, the easiest thing to do is to change the coach. But does a change of manager really solve the problems? What the new coach has to deal with is actually a bunch of problems left behind by the old coach.
The responsibility of the management cannot be ignored.
Real Madrid’s performance in the transfer market has also been unsatisfactory. Although it is difficult to find a player who can perfectly replace Kroos, the last three years of Real Madrid’s attraction operation have really failed to convince people.
Carvajal, for example, is now 33 years old, while Lucas Vazquez is 34. It doesn’t make sense for a world-class club to rely on two over-30 veterans at right-back.
It’s a similar problem at left-back, where neither option has been consistent.
Real Madrid have been very quiet in the transfer market. There’s been almost no news of new arrivals, the only rumour being Liverpool’s Arnold, but that’s just a rumour.
The weak squad has become a reality.
Some Real Madrid fans joked that they were happy with the squad. But that joke now sounds more like helplessness. It’s an open secret that the team has a weak squad and lacks depth.
Faced with such a complicated situation, Carlo Ancelotti also joked in the pre-match conference: “Maybe everyone is tired of me. It sounds like a joke, but it may be a sign of his inner fatigue.
He may soon be gone, leaving behind an unfinished project.
The future of the Bernabeu, what is the attraction?
If Ancelotti does leave, who will take over this Real Madrid team? Will the new coach be up to the challenge? The stage at the Bernabeu is still glamorous enough, but the problems behind it cannot be ignored.
The new coach will have to deal with an ageing squad, frequent injuries, an unbalanced midfield and an unstable defence. This is not something that can be solved with simple tactical changes, but requires structural reforms from the top down.
Carlo Ancelotti may be the scapegoat in this system, but the real problem must be solved by the entire Real Madrid squad.
