Carlo Ancelotti has endured a rocky start to the new season at Real Madrid and has been incessantly linked with rumours of an exit.
After all, Real Madrid have been shaky this term and far from dominant. Considering the new signings ahead of the new term, the expectations were far higher than how the team has performed.
Despite the rocky start, however, Ancelotti has already won his first title of the season in the form of the UEFA Super Cup and eyes his second of the term tomorrow night in the Intercontinental Cup.
Staring at history
Ancelotti is the joint-highest title-winning manager in Real Madrid history with 14 titles to his name and has achieved the same over his two stints at the club.
He has won three UEFA Champions League titles, two FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and two Copa del Rey titles.
Trophy no. 15 incoming? (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Along with him on the magical number of 14, however, is former manager Miguel Munoz who managed Real Madrid between 1960 and 1974.
If Ancelotti wins the Intercontinental Cup final tomorrow night, he will overtake the club legend and script his place in Real Madrid’s history as the most decorated manager to have ever coached the club. Even Zinedine Zidane, notably, has only 11 titles to his name.
In order to write history, however, Ancelotti must guide his men past Mexican side Pachuca at the Lusail Stadium in a game where his side are the overwhelming favourite.
Kylian Mbappe is expected to be fit to even start tomorrow night in what is a massive boost for Los Blancos and all signs point to them gifting the manager his 15th title at the club.
Needless to say, he could even establish a sizeable lead by the end of the campaign.