The Copa del Rey final forces Florentino Pérez to make his final decision regarding Real Madrid’s coach.
The Copa del Rey final seemed like a plebiscite for the future of the Real Madrid bench. Ancelotti was taking a risk after the Champions League elimination against Arsenal and the image the team presented. And during the first half, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to overcome that, being in danger at that precise moment.
However, he replaced Mbappé with Rodrygo, sent the team forward, and used man-marking. There, we saw the best of Real Madrid, making Barça suffer for many minutes. And then came the goals from Kylian and Tchouaméni that almost gave them victory.
The Cup wasn’t won, but Florentino took note of what happened. Ancelotti is now sealed, and it’s clear that Xabi Alonso will take his place next summer. The president, after watching the second half, believes it’s not a problem for the players.
He emphasized that it’s a problem of motivation, desire, and a lack of movement in the team that has been evident from the bench all year. That’s why he blames Carletto for what happened. And the solution will be a change of coach, rather than a team revolution.
The Cup final reveals Real Madrid’s mistakes.
Real Madrid have struggled on several occasions this season, and this is reflected in their results. But the Cup final showed that what was happening wasn’t a lack of quality. It was the approach and motivation that came from the bench.
When Ancelotti stopped being Ancelotti, introduced substitutions quickly instead of waiting until the final minutes, and the team moved forward, its potential became clear. Real Madrid eliminated Barça, who focused on clearing the ball out of their own box, unsure how to stop the Whites’ attacks.
It has been proven that a change of plan can bring out the best in a team that has been struggling. Not only did he resist them, but he also left the Azulgranas unable to react. This was all due to the moves made from the bench to prevent the situation from continuing on the same path.
Florentino believes Xabi Alonso will solve the problems.
The image Real Madrid left in the second half of the Copa del Rey final demonstrated what they are capable of. This makes the club believe that with Xabi Alonso, they can turn things around next season. Introducing new blood into the dressing room and the team’s management, with the Tolosarra native as the new coach and some reinforcements in key positions.
Ancelotti’s continued tenure is already 99% ruled out, and some are already talking about a date. Some sources indicate that his departure could even be announced next week. Something that still seems complicated given that the championship is still at stake and the Whites have a chance of fighting to the end.
