City debacle puts Ancelotti in the eye of the hurricane
His decisions against City out him in the firing line. He has met with Florentino in recent weeks and in Manchester he insisted that he will continue: “The president said so.”
Last night’s 4-0 defeat at the Etihad has reopened the debate about Carlo Ancelotti’s continuity at Real Madrid and whether the Italian will see out the final year of his contract with the club. Madrid hadn’t lost by a such a humiliating scoreline since the infamous chorreo in Liverpool in 2009. But not even on that fateful night at Anfield did the team look so impotent, incapable of responding to a combination of their rival’s exuberance and their own downfall. The collapse in Manchester was so brutal, that some veteran commentators had flashbacks of that 5-0 drubbing in San Siro in the late 80s against Sacchi’s Milan... and Carletto.
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Florentino Pérez publicly gave Ancelotti a vote of confidence after Madrid lifted the Copa del Rey at La Cartuja a couple of weeks ago but that seal of approval no longer seems so bulletproof. Just over a week ago, when asked if Ancelotti would continue in his position, the president was forthright in his reply: “We have never speculated about that. And neither has he. So I don’t want to talk about the matter, because there’s nothing to talk about. Carlo has a contract for one more season and we are delighted with him.” Ancelotti’s future has been in the spotlight in recent weeks and the City defeat has only raised more questions about whether the Italian will stay on.
“Will I continue? The president spoke about it 15 days ago. There are no doubts "
Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueño was noncommittal when the subject was brought up in his flash zone interview in Manchester, refusing to answer a question on whether Ancelotti will continue: “Carlo has a contract with us, he is a fantastic coach - and he’s also won everything with us. It’s a bad night for all of us, we’re very sad and that’s that,” he said.
But, as Jorge Valdano, someone else who has held a high-ranking position at the club, told Movistar Plus+, “The sources of power and influence in Madrid are elsewhere...” At various point this season, those in power at the club have discussed the need to begin the search for a new coach or not. It was an issue that has been debated internally and Ancelotti is well aware of those discussions.
Guardiola as executioner
It was ironic that it had to Guardiola who inflicted Carletto’s worst defeat as Madrid coach. And Ancelotti has even been publicly criticized for his casual character. The decision to bench Rüdiger, who kept Haaland quiet in the first leg made headlines for all the wrong reasons...
Similar to his first spell at Madrid, May has turned out to be a devastating month for Ancelotti. On 28 May 28 2015, he was notified by the club that his contract had been terminated. Now, with four dead rubber LaLiga games to get through, it’s a matter of seeing the season out and securing second place. At the same time, on the ongoing process of planning the squad for next season will keep the coach occupied.
Ancelotti had few words to say about his future in last night’s press conference. “The president was clear fifteen days ago, there are no doubts.” During the past few weeks, he has met for lunch or dinner with Florentino to map out the future. At the moment, it’s looking murkier than ever.