Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the French media outlet L’Équipe in recent hours. In the midst of a storm at Real Madrid, the 65-year-old Italian coach shared the full truth about his current situation and particularly discussed the departures of Toni Kroos, Nacho Fernandez, and Josélu Mato.
Roughly three months into the new 2024-2025 season, Real Madrid has yet to shine. Despite the grand arrival of Kylian Mbappé in the Spanish capital, as well as that of young prodigy Endrick, the team under Carlo Ancelotti’s management has not met expectations. This season, the alarm bells are already ringing with three defeats, including heavy losses to Barça in La Liga and to AC Milan in the Champions League. With his future now on the line, Real’s coach spoke out in an interview with L’Équipe.
Ancelotti’s significant admission
Ahead of Saturday’s match against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu, Carlo Ancelotti touched on several key subjects, notably his career, which he doesn’t consider better than that of Guardiola or Ferguson, and the arrival of Kylian Mbappé to the squad. He admits that the French forward didn’t arrive with an inflated ego and immediately integrated well into the team, building strong relationships with his teammates and showing a great mindset. Yet, Carlo Ancelotti subtly acknowledges that he’s having a bit more difficulty managing the group.
“Last season’s team was the easiest to coach because there were few egos in the dressing room. Veterans like Modric, Kroos, Carvajal, and Nacho have no ego. They set an example for everyone watching them,” confided the former Bayern Munich coach to L’Équipe. It must be said that Real Madrid is seriously lacking in leadership this season, as Karim Benzema pointed out a few days ago.
The team’s revival or early retirement?
Now in the hands of Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Federico Valverde, Real Madrid’s team – with a notably quieter Luka Modric – suffers from the absence of a strong presence like Dani Carvajal. With a mixed season on the horizon, Carlo Ancelotti knows he will have to do a great deal to get the team back on track. In fact, in his pre-match press conference ahead of Osasuna this Saturday, he revealed that he had identified the team’s real problem.
We wait to see if things will improve or if the team will still appear divided on the pitch. The departure of the 65-year-old coach, who’s already contemplating retirement, is bound to be discussed. “I started in football 48 years ago, so I’m beginning to think about the day it will end. What could make me stop? If Real sack me (laughs). I don’t know. My family? No. My wife actually wants me to keep going.”
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