Carlo Ancelotti has publicly endorsed Jose Mourinho as the ideal candidate to restore stability at Real Madrid, dismissing widespread reports of squad indiscipline as "absolutely bullsh*t." The legendary Italian, who famously succeeded Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2013 to claim La Decima, now manages Brazil but remains deeply invested in Madrid's future direction. Speaking to The Athletic, Ancelotti expressed genuine enthusiasm for a potential second stint by the Benfica boss in the Spanish capital.
The narrative surrounding Madrid's recent struggles has centered on claims that players have grown uncontrollable, with suggestions that Xabi Alonso found the group impossible to manage during his truncated tenure. Ancelotti, however, pushed back firmly against this characterization, drawing on his own experience in the Madrid dressing room. "The players at Real Madrid do what they want. It's not true. Absolutely bulls***," he stated emphatically. "When I was there, I had an idea and tried to discuss this idea with the players. We won two Champions League trophies in four years, and the players were really focused to follow the strategy and follow the plan."
Man-Management Over Tactics
Ancelotti stressed that Mourinho's success would depend less on tactical innovation and more on cultivating genuine relationships with squad members. "I tried to have a relationship with the person—not with the player—because what you are is a person. You are just a person that plays football," he explained. This philosophy proved decisive in Madrid's recent trophy hauls, suggesting that whoever inherits the role must balance elite technical demands with human connection and squad harmony.
The Italian also urged patience from fans and the board, emphasizing that stability requires time to rebuild. "Real Madrid needs time to reconstruct this environment in the squad, which gave them a lot of success before. It's not only a problem of technical quality. To have success, you must find a good balance," Ancelotti noted. With Arbeloa overseeing Madrid's final three league fixtures against Oviedo, Sevilla, and Athletic Club, clarity on the permanent manager's identity remains weeks away, leaving considerable uncertainty about whether Mourinho will indeed return to the Bernabéu.
