MADRID —
Carlo Ancelotti knows better than
anyone how quickly things can change at Real Madrid.
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After the sensational comeback against
Paris Saint-Germain, Madrid were euphoric. They had defeated one of Europe’s elite,
humiliated an economic rival, neutralized Lionel Messi and, many believed,
convinced Kylian Mbappe.
They were about to win La Liga and suddenly looked
contenders in the Champions League too.
Three weeks later, the advantage in the league is
still intact thanks to a scruffy, albeit morale-boosting, win over
Celta Vigo
on Saturday. But Ancelotti’s credit has all but evaporated.
Real Madrid were waiting until Tuesday to decide if
their coach would be able to travel to the first leg of their
Champions League
quarterfinal against Chelsea on Wednesday, after he tested positive for
COVID-19 last week.
The outcome of the tie could decide if he continues
as coach next season.
It says something about the weight of the Clasico
fixture that eight months of largely impressive work can be almost entirely
erased by a 90 minutes.
There has been criticism of Ancelotti — of
Madrid’s
counter-attacking style, his lack of rotation and, in particular, the manner of
the passive first-leg defeat by PSG — but a dominant position in La Liga had
mostly kept the sceptics in check.
Losing 4–0 to Barcelona, though, at the
Santiago Bernabeu, when Madrid could easily have shipped six or seven, has brought
doubts to the fore, not least because that result served as a warning for what
may be to come.
Barca are 11 points behind Real Madrid in the table
but it is Xavi Hernandez’s resurgent young side who are finishing the season as
the strongest team in Spain.
For Ancelotti, the Clasico defeat means winning La Liga
may no longer be enough. How they win the title, with eight games to go, and
how they fare against
Chelsea will now frame how the first year of Ancelotti’s
second tenure is viewed.
Real Madrid’s president
Florentino Perez met
Ancelotti over the international break and while Perez reassured Ancelotti his
future was secure, the need for talks was significant.
When Ancelotti was sacked by Real Madrid in 2015, a
year after winning the Champions League, he later admitted the moment he was
told to meet Perez was when he first knew his days were numbered.
Ancelotti’s arrival last summer was a surpris, for
everyone, including Ancelotti and Perez.
It was only a chance conversation between them that
saw the idea floated and then quickly take shape. “It’s happened fast,”
Ancelotti said at his unveiling.
That contributed to the sense that this was a
short-term appointment, one that could be curtailed without much fuss or
financial penalty.
If there is a parting this summer, it is unlikely to
be bitter. With the league title won, both parties would consider it a success.
But Ancelotti’s appointment was also perhaps a
reflection of the market last summer, when there was a dearth of top coaches
available.
Barcelona looked to replace
Ronald Koeman but stuck
with the Dutchman after finding nobody else was suitable. Manchester United
continued with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Juventus turned back to Max Allegri.
This summer, there could be more persuasive options,
with Mauricio Pochettino expected to part ways with PSG. Erik Ten Hag may be
prepared to leave Ajax and Raul Gonzalez, Real Madrid’s legendary former
striker, will have completed three years with the B team and could be ready to
follow the path of Zinedine Zidane.
Depending on the ownership situation at Chelsea,
perhaps even
Thomas Tuchel could be lured.
Even if Chelsea’s future is resolved and Tuchel
reassured, his presence in this tie is awkward for Ancelotti, the German
representing the type of younger, more progressive coach that Madrid have so
far avoided but might need if they are to stay ahead of Xavi’s Barcelona.
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