The 14-time European champion was destroyed by Pep Guardiola’s side in the semi-finals this season. So what do they need to do to narrow the gap with the competition?
Տаy goodbye to Ancelotti
Ancelotti confirmed after Wednesday’s game that he is not going anywhere and plans to complete his contract with Madrid until it expires in 2024. He has the right to leave the Santiago Bernabeu on his own terms. . After all, this is a coach who has won all five of Europe’s top leagues and four Champions Leagues in a glorious coaching career.
Ancelotti has survived and adapted to different coaching eras, taking on parts of different styles while proving that others can be so easy to Ƅеат. In a sense, this Real Madrid team is his masterpiece. At their best, this is a perfectly harmonious group of 11 players who are patient when it comes to possession and wreaking havoc on it. Ancelotti made them successful by helping to instill the spirit, and then letting them play.
But as the game against Man City showed, that is not as reliable as it used to be. Signs that Ancelotti should probably leave have been around for most of this season. Madrid have stalled in La Liga and could finish the season in third place, 20 points behind Barcelona. Then, winning the Champions League will be what helps him keep his job.
However, his team was battered. It’s not exactly Ancelotti’s fault – no one can stop Man City at the moment. However, a change of coach may have to be the answer here. Identifying the right people for the job is difficult, and the two most senior managers to have been left out of the market in the past three months are Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino.
But Ancelotti’s time at Madrid may be over. He could at least save face by taking the job in Brazil, with Selecao openly eager to recruit the coach.
Farewell to the old generals
Madrid have relied on experience in the Champions League for a number of years now. And with each passing season, a veteran slowly leaves. Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo have all seen Champions League glory and come away with varying dignity.
The last 4 of those serial winners are just Һа𝚗ɡι𝚗ɡ on here. Kroos, Modric and Benzema have all signed or are about to sign new one-year contracts, while Carvajal’s contract also expires in 2024. And while they will certainly rejoin next year, it’s hard to ꜱаy. see this group improve the team’s results – especially with a new group of Champions League contenders likely to enter the tournament next year.
The aforementioned quartet shouldn’t necessarily hold Real Madrid back, but perhaps they should be gracefully kicked out the door. Kroos’ defensive weaknesses were badly exposed at the Etihad, while Modric was unusually shy and looked ꜱcагеԀ on the ball. Meanwhile, Carvajal is chased by a cocky Jack Grealish. For his part, Benzema left almost no mark.
It would be too impulsive to simply sell all 4, or even get rid of them all within the next 12 months. But Madrid should look to the future and start introducing some young players, such as Aurelien Tchouameni or Eduardo Camavinga, into the starting XI more often.