Quick Read
- Carlo Ancelotti’s final Real Madrid season ended without major trophies, despite Mbappe’s arrival.
- Defensive injuries to Carvajal, Militao, and Rudiger destabilized the squad.
- Ancelotti is now Brazil’s head coach, embracing a new challenge and a different kind of pressure.
- He backs Cristiano Ronaldo to reach 1,000 career goals and highlights Mbappe, Bellingham, Yamal, and Haaland as future superstars.
- Xabi Alonso has made a strong start as Ancelotti’s successor at Madrid.
Ancelotti’s Final Chapter at Real Madrid: Glory, Collapse, and Reflection
Carlo Ancelotti’s last season at Real Madrid was meant to be a triumphant finale to an illustrious tenure. The Italian had steered Los Blancos to the heights of European football, clinching both La Liga and the Champions League in 2024. With Kylian Mbappe joining the likes of Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, fans and pundits alike expected another season of dominance. Yet, the campaign unraveled in ways few could have predicted, ending with Madrid four points behind Barcelona and eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals. In the wake of these disappointments, Ancelotti was replaced by Xabi Alonso, closing an era defined by both brilliance and heartbreak (Goal).
Speaking from Brazil, Ancelotti offered a candid breakdown of what went wrong. The veteran coach pointed to a defensive crisis that shook the very foundations of his squad. With Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao sidelined by serious injuries, and Antonio Rudiger playing through pain, Madrid lost the backbone that had powered its previous successes. “We lost our entire starting defence,” Ancelotti explained, noting that the domino effect forced tactical reshuffles across the pitch. Federico Valverde was deployed at right-back, Aurelian Tchouameni at centre-back, leaving the midfield exposed and the team’s rhythm fractured. The collapse, he stressed, was not about star departures but about losing defensive identity. “We lost solidity at the back, and that cost us titles,” he said.
Despite speculation about the impact of Toni Kroos’ departure, Ancelotti dismissed this as the root cause. “Finding another Kroos or Modric is impossible,” he admitted, but praised Madrid’s midfield depth, which included Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Bellingham. For Ancelotti, the team’s undoing was not a lack of talent but an absence of structure—a reminder that football’s margins are often razor-thin.
From Madrid to Brazil: A New Challenge and a Different Pressure
After leaving Madrid, Ancelotti found himself at the helm of Brazil’s national team, a move he described as both unexpected and inspiring. “Thinking about going to another club was difficult for me because of the legacy I had left,” he confessed. But when Brazil called, the opportunity to prepare the historic Selecao for the 2026 World Cup became a dream worth chasing.
Life in Brazil, Ancelotti notes, is a different kind of pressure. The daily grind of club management—”six press conferences a week”—has been replaced by a more observational role. The schedule is less frenetic, but the stakes remain high. “I try to learn every day about the current state of football in Brazil, the country’s culture, everything,” he said. Living in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti enjoys the city’s rhythms and the chance to observe the development of Brazilian football under a young, reform-minded Confederation president. The change in pace has allowed him to recalibrate his approach, focusing on long-term preparation rather than immediate results.
Vinicius Jr, Xabi Alonso, and Madrid’s New Era
Ancelotti’s relationship with Vinicius Jr remains central to his vision for both club and country. While Vinicius has struggled at times to reproduce his Madrid form for Brazil, Ancelotti is optimistic: “In these last few matches, he’s improved and has done very well with Brazil, scoring goals and providing assists. Vini is top-class.” He also addressed the emotional outburst that Vinicius displayed after being substituted by Alonso, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and adaptation to new roles: “He made a mistake, he apologised, and he must learn from it. The coach has the right to make the changes he needs to improve the team.”
Turning to his successor, Ancelotti offered a supportive assessment of Xabi Alonso’s start at Madrid. Despite the challenges of a shortened preseason and a half-fit squad, Alonso has led Madrid to the top of La Liga and into the Champions League’s top eight. “I watch every game,” Ancelotti said, “and I think the team is doing very well. They’ve won almost every game. What more can we ask of Xabi!” He credited Alonso with restoring defensive solidity—something Madrid sorely missed last season—and believes the team is now well-positioned for future success (Football Espana).
The Next Kings of Football: Ancelotti’s Favorites
As the era of Messi and Ronaldo draws to a close, the question of who will inherit football’s throne remains open. Ancelotti’s perspective is nuanced: “It is difficult to determine who will be the new king of football. There are very few truly exceptional players.” He highlighted Real Madrid’s own Mbappe and Bellingham as leading candidates, while also praising Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who continues to score at a prodigious rate (Foot Africa).
But Ancelotti’s admiration for Ronaldo remains undiminished. The Portuguese icon, now with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, recently scored his 950th career goal and continues to defy age and expectation. Ancelotti is certain that Ronaldo will reach the mythical 1,000-goal milestone, and joked that he expects to be invited to the celebration. “Cristiano will surely reach 1,000 goals, but when he does, he shouldn’t forget to invite me,” Ancelotti said (Yahoo Sports). With Ronaldo set to make his final World Cup appearance in 2026, both he and Ancelotti are navigating the twilight of their storied careers, each chasing one last legacy.
Brazil’s Road to the World Cup: Immediate Tests and Long-Term Vision
For Ancelotti, the immediate focus is stabilizing Brazil’s form ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Selecao’s next friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will be crucial, especially after a 3-2 defeat to Japan. With qualification already secured, Ancelotti is tasked with fine-tuning a squad brimming with young talent and historic expectations. “All eyes will now be on how the ex-Madrid manager uses these games to reshape Brazil’s form,” the narrative goes, as Ancelotti seeks to deliver a sixth World Cup to the football-mad nation.
Ancelotti’s journey illustrates the delicate balance between legacy and reinvention. His reflections on Real Madrid’s struggles, his embrace of Brazil’s challenges, and his insights into football’s future stars reveal a manager who understands both the weight of history and the promise of change. As he and Ronaldo approach their final acts, the sport’s next chapter may be defined by those who can adapt as gracefully as they have.