ancelotti Backs Alonso to Continue Real Madrid Success
MADRID - Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in current head coach Xabi Alonso’s ability to lead the club to continued success in a recent interview with AS. Ancelotti, who managed Real Madrid across two spells, highlighted the team’s strong performance under alonso, currently leading La Liga and among the top eight in the Champions League.
Ancelotti emphasized the unique pressures at Real Madrid,stating,”One thing I learned at Real Madrid is that a draw here is the prelude to a crisis. No jokes. You have to get used to that.” He added, “What more can we ask of Xabi? I see a solid team, especially in defence, and very effective upfront. Mbappé is doing very well and Bellingham is back.I think Xabi can succeed without any problem.”
Reflecting on his final season with the club (2024-25), Ancelotti attributed challenges to significant injuries within the starting defense. “We lost Carvajal and Militao, and Rüdiger played with a serious problem,” he explained. He noted the need to deploy players out of position, such as Valverde at right back and Tchouameni at center back, which impacted midfield stability.
Despite the defensive setbacks, Ancelotti praised the contributions of players like Asensio, Güler, Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Tchouameni, and Valverde, acknowledging the difficulty in replacing players of Kroos and Modric’s caliber. “We have great midfielders, but looking for another Kroos or Modric is impossible,” he said.
The interview also touched on the club’s Brazilian contingent, with Vinicius and Rodrygo remaining key figures for the national team. Young forward Endrick is aiming to secure a place in the Brazilian squad for the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup, possibly through a loan deal to gain further playing time.
