Yeah, it's CL or bust for him. If RM lost the league in a close contest and weren't humiliated by Barca multiple times, I could see him staying. But that's not the case. Unfortunate, because I would have liked for him to stay a long time. But Xavi is making Carlo look like a fool. Florentino Perez won't let these slide. He fired Carlo for less last time.
I am not saying Carlo is not at fault here but fail to understand why all fingers are pointed at him. Look at the squad he is working with! I really think Perez is also at fault here! what is he thinking? until when can we go on without proper investment in the team?
Carlo is a wonderful leader and has impossible levels of experience. At the same time we might need new ideas. It's a very tough one.
I think Carlo probably has ideas but he's been unwilling to experiment because the coach gets such a short leash at Madrid. He's going to maintain his relationships with guys like Modric and Benz because they are legends and why burn those bridges for a teenager who might just as easily go bust like Jessee. Now if Flo had given Carlo assurances about continuing as manager next season if he was willing to take some chances in an effort to facilitate squad turnover and get youth team players experience as an investment in the future of the team, then we would have probably already seen that. I don't blame Carlo. His record stands on its own but he's been given a squad with glaring holes and obvious weaknesses and the only other ideas and alternatives being put forward is that he should be playing amatuers. And I giggle whenever I read a post where someone thinks youth team players are going to step up and deliver a title if we just throw them in the fire, when all I see happening is a frantic call to 911 and press conference where Carlo has to admit he made a big mistake.
Already said I’ve lowered expectations for the season when Perez turned his back on Carlo, but still his tactics have been questionable at some of the most crucial points. We had the best attacking play in last 10 mins in last match. Ceballos should have started, it’s Carlo’s call to make how many players we commit forward at what stage In the game. ‼️ During Real Madrid’s final 3rd attacking sequences, they only had more than one player in Barcelona’s box for 1:21 minutes, compared to Barcelona’s 5:32. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/fDuiiqLk87— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 20, 2023
I'm intrigued about this "giving assurances" thing to coaches because a lot of them are absolutely terrible with talent/judges of potential. We need to improve the squad, but at this point it's beyond any shadow of doubt to me that Carlo would rather sustain the past for a little bit longer than look at long term.
So, game by game analysis then, team, coach, good when we go to Anfield and win 5-2 bad when we go to Farca and lose 2-1, lose to Farca away, no long term planning living in the past, dismiss Liverpool ..........?
End of the day i keep Ancelotti unless he wants to leave or there is a clear divide between what he wants and what the club wants. The best coach available (in my opinion) that isn't Zidane is an absolute headache to deal with, so i'm very conflicted.
I would like to keep Carlo as well unless Zidane is chomping at the bit or something like that. But since Carlo also has a good offer on the table (allegedly) i see us as "mutually parting ways" at the end of the season. Carlo has made mistakes this season, tactical mistakes. But he's still one of the best coaches around and fits the club like a glove with his attitude and handling of the media. Just this season he has had to navigate the Vinicius stuff along with the bad results and media leaks (he leaked responses to the leaks) and if that squad hadn't fallen off completely after the world cup things could have been different but my feeling is we will have a new coach next season. Good thing (or this could be a bad thing also i suppose) is that we have very solid options out there. Known commodity like Zizou and up and comers like Xabi Alonso. Proven coaches like Tuchel. We'll be alright and so will Carlo who will be fondly remembered, always.
🚨🗣️ Ederson: “I spoke to Casemiro, Viní & Militão. There is a BIG possibility Ancelotti becomes Brazil’s coach.” @UOLEsporte pic.twitter.com/rYGAc4ScG9— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 21, 2023 No surprise there. I think Carlo is gone no matter what. Even if he were to win the CL, which is obviously very unlikely, it’s best for him at this stage of his career to end his club tenure. We will have a lot of options for quality managers this summer, which isn’t always the case.
I love Carlo. He’s been a great manager for us in both spells. But let’s be honest. As long as Kroos, Modric, Carvajal and Benz are on the team and can stand up straight. They will start all big matches. If we are serious about changes, it’s time for Carlo to go.
Squad depth is not there which means when the starters play well, we can beat anyone but if the starters don’t, we struggle. This leads to inconsistent results in the league, but good results when we turn it up in CL. A weaker but deeper squad at Barca will get knocked out of Europa League to the first decent team they meet, but get much more consistent results which means they are tonking us in the league. Fixing our right wing, central attacking and fullback areas means that the results will be much more consistent and will also be at a higher level than Barca’s. Ancelotti will be sacked (they will dress it up as mutual consent) if we go trophyless. He’s a big boy and knows how it goes, and he has the Brazil offer so he might go even if we win something. I think either way he’s gone at the end of the season and it saddens me because he likely won’t return. But I’d still be happy if we get Zidane back.
I’d be fine with one more year to manage the final seasons of Modric, Kroos, Benz and Carvajal. We are unlikely to win anything, but it’s not like we will anyway. I’m thinking summer of 2024 is when we will have the rebuild.
Since the club has been using the "slow rebuild" route which by the way has been a major success with the CL victory last season, it would make sense to keep Carlo to phase out this era. Next season will undoubtedly be the last for guys like Modric, Kroos, Hazard, Lucas V, and possibly Benz (I'm assuming at 35 they'll only extend him for an additional year). A new coach after next season to fully start the new era would make sense to me. Outside of the possible personality issues some people say about Tuchel, I think he could do magic with our young stars. He really has an incredible football mind.
If we're overhauling the roster like we should, we also need a new manager who will have input in the transfers. I love Carlo, but he peaked with this group of friends of his (as he calls them) last season. They are not receptive to new ideas and Carlo doesn't have them even if they were. Just as Mourinho's siege mentality has a tipping point, so does the TLC approach. The manager cycle at Madrid is short, its normal. Carlo will always be a legend anyway.
A very good detailed analysis of tactical failure and dependency on individual brilliance, something that we already knew.
I've been following them from afar since last season because Diaby really caught my eye and i thought he could be a candidate for our right wing until his price sky rocketed and @MiamiNative0722 has been following him closely as i am sure some others too. Usually he sets up the team in a 4-2-3-1 but his full backs are very attacking, very high up on the pitch at time. Xabi: “We want to play modern football. That means: intensity with and without the ball, being more active than passive and with a strong mentality. The team has to know how we want to play. Dominant, intense, controlled, with a winning mentality and that should be from the first kick-off until the final whistle. I will try to give the players clear instructions and ideas.” “I was a midfielder, so I like the control and I like my teams to control the game, to play good football, to be able to be active with the ball and not to be waiting for the opening. They have to be brave, to be proactive, to find things.” “The first lesson that I learned from them (Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti) is that the players need to follow you, they need to believe in what they are doing, they need to know that they are improving with you coaching, with your help.” So this is how i have seen his Bayer team play. Lots of intensity. Lots of speed with the ball. Although at times they also look chaotic and out of control. He does have some good players over there and he has really rallied them and you can see the buy-in. He also did amazing work with La Real's B side. Got them promoted to the segunda. He did not lose a game with our under 13 team where he started his coaching career. I think he is a serious manager like he was a serious player. It's so hard to answer the question everyone has on their mind, is he ready for a big club. I think he takes his new job very seriously and has a great footballing mind, the question that can be answered is that he does get the team to play for him.
My first pick will always be a third Zidane tenure. It seems after the France rejection, he is awaiting another call up from Florentino. Rumor has it that Juventus want him, but no way he walks into that clusterf*ck. PSG is a joke of a team. I doubt Zizou sells out like that. So I believe he's coming back. That is the best case scenario for everyone. Second option is Xabi Alonso, as I mentioned early. He is doing surprisingly well with Bayer Leverkusen. Third option is Klopp. But he demands a highly physical squad and I don't think his playstyle will be easy to implement without significant changes in personnel. I doubt Perez wants to rock that much in one summer. Fourth option is Raul. He's doing well with Castilla. I read somewhere he is being touted as the next promotion like Zidane. The Madrid upper heirarchy are definitely in favor of it.
These are all good options, however, I dont really think our MAIN problem is coach, we bring in the best coach and refuse to spend money to get players, not much is going to change.
First and foremost, the truth is it won't matter who the coach is if the club doesn't reinforce on the pitch. I have a gut feeling our next coach will be Xabi Alonso, which I'm all for. Sharp guy who will command the respect of the room and a great communicator. Seems like a guy players would love to play for.
One thing Zizou has over any manager is that I feel players readily follow him. I would too especially when you see him on pitch doing his magic in training, which is a level above everyone else. Probably makes even star players watch in awe.