Madrid's Trainer Ancelotti Ponders Over Uncertainty Regarding His Position Following Sevilla Triumph
After a triumphant 4-2 triumph over Sevilla in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's head coach, underscored that he never hesitated to face any challenges, even when his team, Los Blancos, experienced a string of poor performances earlier in the season.
Facing off against the Andalusians at the Bernabeu, marking their last game of 2024, Ancelotti's squad soared to second place in the Spanish title race, just one point behind their city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Although 2024 concluded on a positive note with Madrid solidifying their place in the title race, along with seizing the Intercontinental Cup at Pachuca's cost in Qatar this week, the team encountered a tough phase earlier in the current season, marred by losses both domestically and in the Champions League.
Ancelotti faced intense criticism, but he managed to weather the storm, maintaining his composure when queried about any apprehensions regarding his job security.
"I've never doubted my position, even though I understand the job pressures when things aren't going well. The club has always shown me warmth, patience, and has stood by me profoundly. That's what a coach needs," Ancelotti shared during his post-match press conference.
Tracking down the moment when they hit rock bottom, Ancelotti traced it back to a 3-1 defeat against his former team AC Milan on the European stage that transpired a week after suffering a 4-0 drubbing against FC Barcelona in El Clasico.
"It was after losing against Milan," he admitted. "We bounced back by having open and frank discussions. We recognized the problem at hand. We've turned things around."
Self-reflection is a highly admired trait in Spain, and Ancelotti pointed out that one of Madrid's shortcomings was "lacking drive, dedication, and hustle".
"We've resumed performing as we should. Following our loss against Milan, it was a demanding two months, but gradually, we've returned to delivering consistently. We ended the year on a strong note and with high spirits for 2025," he shared.
As for his holiday plans, Ancelotti disclosed: "I'll start with some rest first."
"We've provided each player with a three-session training programme, and they won't miss out on anything. We have an important game approaching against Valencia on January 3. I'm content that the players can take a break."
The Valencia encounter on January 3 holds significant importance, as it represents the game in reserve that Madrid holds over Barca, which can potentially help widen the gap with the Catalans to a substantial four-point difference through a win.
After their victory over Sevilla, Atletico Madrid remained at the top of La Liga, maintaining a slim lead over Real Madrid. Despite the challenge, Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in facing any obstacles, even after the team's poor performances earlier in the season.
Despite a strong end to 2024, with Real Madrid securing second place in La Liga and winning the Intercontinental Cup against Pachuca, they faced a tough phase earlier in the season, experiencing losses in both the domestic league and the Champions League.
Although Carlo Ancelotti faced intense criticism during these challenging times, he maintained his composure, attributing the club's support and patience as key factors in overcoming these difficulties.
While Real Madrid had a successful end to 2024, they experienced a significant setback earlier in the season with a 3-1 defeat against Carlo Ancelotti's former team, AC Milan, on the European stage, which was followed by a 4-0 drubbing against FC Barcelona in El Clasico.
