Carlo Ancelotti knows that the atmosphere around him has changed in recent weeks at Valdebebas.
The experienced coach has been around long enough to know the demands of the job at Real Madrid and Ancelotti is aware that his team needs a reaction, and quickly, because it is not enough to continue competing and to rely on comebacks alone.
As Relevo report, Ancelotti is aware of the difficult challenge ahead of him to end the season lifting some of the silverware they experienced lifting last season.
According to the report, failure at the FIFA Club World Cup would be would not go down well with the Real Madrid hierarchy. The club’s directors reportedly lost faith in Ancelotti after the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
Although he spent the entire winter transfer window saying that he was satisfied with his squad and that his homework had been done, the reality is that he is resigned to the fact that he has to face six competitions with just 15 or 16 players.
Some players, including Álvaro Odriozola, Eden Hazard and Mariano Díaz, are still in the squad because they couldn’t find moves away in the summer, and Ancelotti is reluctant to use them.
Luka Modric and Fede Valverde are going through tough periods and David Alaba, Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy are still not playing because of injuries.
It’s a combination of factors that has led to the club turning to the Champions League to save their season, a situation that rarely works out well.
The Italian coach would have liked to have a guaranteed replacement for Benzema who, at 35 years of age, is suffering from injuries. The Frenchman sustained the team in many parts of last season and Madrid are missing their talisman this campaign.
Los Blancos lost the Super Cup to rivals Barcelona and there is now a gap in the league (eight points) that could prove difficult to overcome.
Kieran Quaile | GSFN
