The beginning of 2015 was supposed to be a period that mark fresh starts into new endeavors as well as renewed strength, passion and emotion for already existing projects. Real Madrid were matching toward La Liga with a comfortable lead over Barcelona as well as heading toward a record winning streak. It all looked rosy till Valencia showed up and handed them their first defeat in 22 competitive games. Blame started to be thrown around and a certain Welshman bore the brunt of it. The trip to Atletico did not help matters as the Madrid ship started to sink. The blame game became a regular feature since the turn of the year as Real's patchy form dragged on. Florentino Perez became a worried man and sought to find out what was happening to his beloved Madrid and who was to blame. Press reports seemed to have pointed Carlo Ancelotti as the cause and rumors swiftly started to circulate in the media. The media conveniently forgot to hit on the injuries that it the team. It is undoubtedly known that Madrid is a team that seeks beauty and efficiency, something that Ancelotti has been able to achieve. Also, he has delivered all but two trophies he has competed in his two years at Madrid. His ability to manage egos and maintain an air of calm while maintaining player happiness and satisfaction is an attribute that is desperately needed at Madrid and which he has been able to adequately provide.
It is therefore baffling to logical Real Madrid fans as well as football purists to hear of the rumors in relation to his managerial position. He like any other human has his failings but overall, he is the kind of manager needed in the Real Madrid dugout. Florentino Perez's and the Madrid board's inability to publicly back him is not helping matters hence making the instability of the position one of the worst kept secrets in recent footballing history.
His proposed replacements are either partially suited for the job or totally unsuited. Taking a candidate like Andre Villas Boas will be a step backward for Madrid rather than a step forward as his inability to withstand pressure at big clubs was a feature in his tenure at Chelsea and Tottenham. He is more suited to calmer conditions and low pressure conditions as witnessed in his Porto and Zenit St. Petersburg jobs. The conditions and ability needed to succeed at a side like Madrid are absent and it will take a few more years of experience to be ready for the job. Reports circulating in Spain and Portugal indicate that Porto tactician Julen Lopetegui is also a candidate for the position. He has an upper hand over his Portuguese counterpart as he has a relatively better working knowledge of the workings of the club as he played there from 1988 to 199. Also, he was the manager for Real Madrid's B team. His little history makes him a suitable candidate as does his nationality and relative knowledge of the Spanish game, but his relative youth and inexperience at a higher level makes him unsuited to take charge at Madrid. Also, the word in Italy suggests Napoli boss Rafael Benitez is the leading candidate to take over as Carlo's replacement. He is a perennial candidate for the Madrid hot seat whenever it becomes available. This may be as a result of being Spanish as well as his relative successes in England with Liverpool and Chelsea. Also, his knowledge of the Spanish terrain puts him above his rivals but his failure to bring the best out of most of the big names he has managed as well as his inability to maintain a sustained period of success makes his chances of getting the job faint. Finally, Jurgen Klopp has also been slated for the job at hand. His ability to break the Bayern monopoly between 2010 and 2013 could do him a great deal of good as Barcelona seem to be on the path to a period of dominance in Spain again . Also, his ability to get the best out of his players is a plus for him but his style of play does not suit Madrid all too well as his is similar to Jose Mourinho's counterattacking style employed while at Madrid. Madrid's demand for beauty and results will conflict with his style. Also his inability to maintain a sustained period of success rules him out of the job.
It is evident that Ancelotti and Madrid are a match made in heaven as he embodies what all these managers lack. His only failing lies in his haul of league championships. But with the materials at his disposal and his demeanor, he can undoubtedly raise Madrid from the ashes of this season's failure as seen by the team's resurgence after a poor start to the season. PAY HEED FLORENTINO! KEEP CARLO AND YOUR SHIP SAILS SMOOTHLY, LET HIM GO AND YOU DOOM YOUR SHIP AND IT'S CREW!
