Carlo Ancelotti is experiencing one of the most challenging moments in recent years as coach of Real Madrid.
The 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield earlier this week highlighted the team’s deficiencies in the revamped UEFA Champions League and placed Kylian Mbappe at the centre of the criticism.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti himself has also come under fire, with some reports suggesting that he could be on the verge of losing his job.
However, despite these rumours, the Italian coach appears to place full trust in his players. At least, this is what emerges from a private conversation revealed by the journalist from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Ancelotti’s friend, Alberto Cerruti.
Cerruti revealed yesterday that, as soon as he received a call from El Larguero to participate in the night’s programme, he sent a message to Ancelotti and received a very firm response from the coach.
“Tell them anything, but the most important thing is that Madrid will be in the final of the Champions League in Munich,” Ancelotti allegedly said, as quoted by SPORT.
Defiant under pressure. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Ancelotti sees his team in yet another Champions League final, despite losses to Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool, and the ongoing feeling that the team has yet to find the right balance this season.
However, this is not the first time Real Madrid have scraped through the early rounds of Europe’s top competition only to go on and lift the title.
For now, the sensations surrounding Real Madrid are those of an unstable team that is struggling to fit Mbappe into their system. Ironically, the player who has been the club’s most coveted target for years is proving to be the most difficult piece to integrate.
The Frenchman has mainly played as a centre-forward due to Vinicius Jr.s’ presence, although the Brazilian’s injury gave him the opportunity to play in his preferred position at Anfield.
However, even in the left-wing position, Mbappe once again struggled in what was one of his worst performances in recent years.
It is now on Ancelotti to find the best way to help the marquee summer signing return to the top while also dealing with the plethora of injury problems plaguing the squad.