Real Madrid Set to Part Ways with Coach Ancelotti; Xabi Alonso Emerges as Leading Candidate for Replacement
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Synopsis
Real Madrid is likely to part ways with head coach Carlo Ancelotti at the season's close, with Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso emerging as the favored candidate for his replacement, following Ancelotti's lackluster performance and a series of disappointing defeats.
Key Takeaways
- Carlo Ancelotti may leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
- Xabi Alonso is the leading candidate to replace him.
- Real Madrid has struggled this season despite a strong squad.
- The team faced two significant defeats against FC Barcelona.
- They are currently trailing behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings.
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) The tenure of head coach Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid appears to be nearing its conclusion at the end of this season, with Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen positioned as the top contender to succeed the Italian.
According to a report from Spanish media outlet Relevo, Ancelotti's time at Real Madrid, which has been precarious for several months, is poised to finalize with the end of the current season, unless the Italian coach can pull off an extraordinary turnaround.
Alonso, a former midfielder for Madrid, has significantly revitalized Leverkusen since his arrival, culminating in breaking Bayern Munich's 11-year stronghold on the Bundesliga by leading them to their first-ever league title without a single loss in the 2023-24 domestic season.
Entering the season with the highly anticipated addition of Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid was expected to reclaim its dominant status, especially with one of the most formidable attacking trios in football.
After the disappointing 0-3 defeat against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Ancelotti was questioned if the fans were growing weary of him. The 65-year-old asserted he had the unwavering support of Florentino Perez, stating, "the most important man" is satisfied with his performance.
"I don't know. Maybe people are tired, but the critical thing is that the most important person isn't. He's pleased with me, he assists me, and he supports me. What could alter the dynamic is that the most significant person at this club doesn't lose patience," Ancelotti expressed in the pregame conference.
Despite boasting a powerful attack, a creative midfield, and a resilient defense, Real Madrid has struggled to perform at their usual commanding level. They have faced two significant defeats against their arch-rivals FC Barcelona, suffering a 0-4 loss in La Liga and a 2-5 defeat in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Currently, Real Madrid is trailing four points behind the Catalans in the La Liga standings and are set to visit Estadio de La Cartuja for an away league match in May, alongside an upcoming clash against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final later this month.
Nonetheless, if any team can stage a miraculous comeback from a three-goal deficit, it is Real Madrid. History often proves unkind to those who underestimate the Los Blancos before the conclusion of the match, and the Gunners will need to exert every effort despite their substantial advantage going into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next Thursday.
Real Madrid has previously lost the first leg of a significant European contest by three goals or more on six occasions but has managed to recover and advance in three of those instances.
