BY JEFRY CANOVA
Xabi Alonso’s emergence as Europe’s most promising soccer coach this season excited Real Madrid fans who fantasized about his potential arrival.
But, on Dec. 29, Madrid announced Carlo Ancelotti’s contract extension as the head coach until 2026, ending all hope for Alonso’s arrival.
Like most professional sports, success begins with defense, new lineups and the appointment of younger players.
Ancelotti has fulfilled these requirements, earning his stay.
Madrid’s starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center-backs Éder Militão and David Alaba tore their anterior cruciate ligaments. Still, the team’s defense has overachieved without them.
In LaLiga, Madrid’s defense has the most shutouts with 12 and the least goals conceded, with 15 in 24 matches.
Despite debate and concerns over who the starting goalkeeper should be, Ancelotti has stuck with Andriy Lunin. He has started 12 LaLiga games, conceding only six goals with six clean sheets.
Ancelotti’s reliance on his two only center-backs and defensive midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni’s transformation into a center-back has saved a depleted defense.
Madrid forward Karim Benzema, the club’s second-highest goal scorer, departed last summer. The situation forced Ancelotti to cover Benzema’s absence with 20-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham–a risky tactical decision.
However, it paid off.
Ancelotti reshaped the club’s traditional 4-3-3 system to the 4-4-2 diamond and 4-2-3-1, positioning Bellingham as the attacking midfielder.
In six months, Bellingham, who has become Madrid’s newest beloved superstar, sits as the top scorer in LaLiga with 16 goals and three assists. Madrid has the joint-highest xG (expected goals), 1.97, with 52 goals scored.
Ancelotti, who holds “the special superpower of connecting with superstars,” may fulfill Madrid’s planned squad evolution with the under-25 players.
Ancelotti has placed a more prominent role for his under-25 players this season, with nine playing more than 1,100 minutes. Midfielders Federico Valverde, Bellingham and right winger Rodrygo Goes have all played more than 2,400 minutes—all three having outstanding seasons.
Ancelotti’s constructive responses to the hardships endured this season should warrant more faith from Madrid fans.
Any coach in any sport understands this.
A decorated coach exemplifying the club’s value must be the coach for the next two seasons, maybe even beyond.
Real Madrid plays Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas this Sunday for its next LaLiga match
On their path to winning its 15th UEFA Champions League, Ancelotti and his side must beat RB Leipzig to continue onto the quarterfinals.
anovajd21@bonaventure.edu
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