Carlo Ancelotti embodies the essence of Real Madrid
I really like the photo of Carlo Ancelotti surrounded by a group of Real Madrid greats with the veteran Pirri through to the youngest in the snap being Iker Casillas. The picture is a wonderful representation of a series of generations with Real Madrid players harking back to the late 70s and it shows the link between these former players who define the essence of the club and current head coach. The event behind the picture was an official Real Madrid presentation ceremony where these players were awarded a gold club insignia. Despite Ancelotti never having played for the club, his standing at the institution sees him sit at the same table as the legends and this is well portrayed by the photo.
There is something very 'Real Madrid' in the way Ancelotti is and expresses himself. He's not one for bombastic theories, doesn't look for controversy, is practical and everything is channeled to make Real Madrid look good in every game, in every situation and in every press conference. This has been the case with all the coaches under whom things have gone well for Madrid over the past few decades: Muñoz, Molowny, Del Bosque, Zidane and now the Italian... All of them discreet individuals and happy to let the team take front page billing. They endeavor to look for a manner of playing that best suits their players, instead of trying to fit them into their own preconceived ideals or tactics and manner of playing the game.
There has been plenty of talk in the past about the Real Madrid model or indeed does the club actually have one. In my view, their model is the following....secure good players and put them in the hands of those who allow them to express themselves as footballers with many different styles of playing being employed. It doesn't matter if the Real Madrid team in question fields the likes of, Lozano or Anelka, Hazard or Bale because at the Santiago Bernabéu club there are no hiding places. As former Argentine international and Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano once said. Ancelotti has grasped the old Madrid style and that's why he is the perfect fit for the role as head coach at the club.