Real Madrid is at the center of a crisis that has lasted two consecutive seasons without titles, and the shockwaves have reached Carlo Ancelotti, the legendary Italian coach who knows the corridors of the Santiago Bernabéu well. In exclusive statements to The Athletic, Ancelotti did not hold back in criticizing the current situation and delivered a clear message about what is lacking at the club: leadership, communication, and a firm hierarchy.
The coach, who left Real Madrid in 2025 after four years filled with glory — including one LaLiga and two Champions League titles — does not hide his concern regarding the current state of the team. “I tried to have a relationship with the person and not with the player. They are just people who play football,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of the human aspect in the locker room.
But the news that is igniting the football world is Ancelotti’s “blessing” for the return of José Mourinho to Real Madrid. The Italian coach did not hesitate to praise the current manager of Benfica, considering that Mourinho could be the key to pulling the club out of crisis: “I would be very happy for him. He can do a fantastic job, just as he has always done at every club he has been at.” It is worth noting that Ancelotti and Mourinho share a common history, as the Italian succeeded the Portuguese in leading the merengues in 2013, and they maintain a strong friendship.
Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, attempted to dispel rumors at an emergency press conference: “I didn’t think I would be asked about this [laughs]. We are not at that stage of the process.” However, speculation has not subsided, and the market is in a frenzy.
Ancelotti was incisive in pointing out one of the main problems of the current Real Madrid: the loss of the old guard that made a difference. “The old generation of players needs to be rebuilt. In recent years, Real Madrid has lost really important players: Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Benzema, Nacho. The atmosphere in the squad is fundamental because it comes from these players who have character, personality, and leadership,” the coach explained.
For the manager, the difficulty is not a lack of technical quality, but rather the absence of balance and time for reconstruction. Ancelotti categorically rejected the idea that the Madrid squad resists any more rigorous tactical model, like the one Xabi Alonso tried to implement: “That is total nonsense. When I was there, I had an idea and tried to discuss it with the players to understand if they agreed or not. In the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund in 2024, we worked like that. The player has to be part of the idea; I don’t want to impose a strategy. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a strategy.”
The Italian also reinforced the idea of a football based on dialogue: “Talking to them is not a weakness. I don’t want soldiers on the field. I want players convinced of what they have to do on the pitch.”
In addition to Real Madrid, Ancelotti hinted at his future and the challenges he faces as the coach of Brazil. The 2026 World Cup is on the horizon, and the coach has already defined 24 of the 26 players to be called up, but revealed that injuries complicate the final decisions: “I am very concerned watching matches.” Regarding Neymar, Ancelotti did not close the door, but was realistic about the physical condition of the Santos star: “He is a great talent. What we need to assess is not whether he can pass the ball, but whether he is fit.”
The outlook for Real Madrid is cloudy, but with Ancelotti’s approval for Mourinho’s return, the club may be on the brink of embarking on a new era filled with ambition and pressure to return to the top. The battle for the throne of European football is hotter than ever.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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