Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane’s impact is clear but where the Spanish giants go post-Xabi Alonso only Florentino Pérez knows
A
ll eyes are on Real Madrid again but in a different way than to which the 15-time Champions League winners are accustomed. Every fan expects Real to be among the best eight in Europe but they are in the playoffs for a second season in a row after a 4-2 defeat at Benfica in the final league fixture.
Looking back, Carlo Ancelotti’s impact at Real is even clearer, as is the case with Zinedine Zidane, who won three successive Champions League titles with the club. Why were they suited to this club? Because they themselves once stood on the pitch alongside outstanding footballers. Ancelotti also played under Arrigo Sacchi at Milan while Zidane scored key goals in Champions League and World Cup finals. People with this aura are respected by the best.
Ancelotti and Zidane have been part of packs brimming with talent throughout their professional lives. This enables them to assess accurately the qualities of top footballers as well as deal with their weaknesses. They have first-hand experience of what it takes to turn these characters into a unified team.
