OPINION: Tough life for pondering Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will have a lot to ponder going forward, as his team's old, niggling problems keep resurfacing as of late and were again exposed by Schalke.
The stuttering Whites squeaked past the Germans 5-4 on aggregate, to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, for the fifth time in a row.
This is the same opponent Los Blancos crushed 9-2 on aggregate (1-6; 3-1) at the same stage of the tournament, last year, on their way to claiming la decima (10th European crown).
Sami Khedira, whom Ancelotti brought in to protect the back four and offer overall stability in the middle of the park, was a scarce figure in large periods of the match, exposing the lack of balance in the engine room, following the departure of Xabi Alonso.
Ancelotti’s options for a possible plan B in attack are limited, with the versatile Angel Di Maria, who was paramount to Los Blancos’ stellar 2013-14 campaign, controversially sold to Manchester United last summer.
The bench against Schalke included an unfit Modric, Javier Hernandez and Asier Illarramendi as alternative attacking options – hardly inspiring if you’re looking to turn a high-pressure tie to your favour.
The champions’ silver lining was brought by their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, who stepped-up with two clinical headers to become Europe’s all-time leading goal-scorer, with 78 strikes, surpassing his close rival Lionel Messi, and former teammate Raul, in the process.
But with teams such as Bayern Munich, PSG and Atletico Madrid, who love making a nuisance of themselves against their city rivals still in the running for Europe’s most coveted trophy, Carlo Ancelotti and his troops will have to regain their form as their immediate short term goal if they are to be the first team to defend the Champions League.
The Italian coach will, however, have to make two to three marquee signings come season-end as a long-term goal to address the imbalance in midfield and the lack of plan B in attacking options.
And the sooner the Casillas issue is addressed, the better for Madrid, going forward. That’s if Ancelotti will still be in the Bernabeu hot seat next season, of course – welcome to the turbulent world of Real Madrid. – @SabeloBoksburg
