There’s plenty of speculation surrounding Carlo Ancelotti’s position at Real Madrid given his inability to win a trophy this season, but the man who brought Los Blancos a Champions League trophy last season has plenty of support.
According to Spanish news outlet AS, many of the best players at the Bernabeu have met with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to state their strong support for the Real Madrid manager.
Madrid has been a a club with high aspirations, and one that has attained those from time to time, but Perez remains obsessed with unseating Barcelona as Spain’s most consistent club, and it’s led him to make eight managerial changes during his fifteen years in charge, about a manager every two years. With Ancelotti’s second year complete, he’s had mixed results but has more importantly instilled an atmosphere of both success and squad stability.
Plenty of players have publicly supported Ancelotti as well. Marcelo, Real Madrid’s emerging superstar, said immediately following their Champions League semifinal loss that he wants the Italian to continue. Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently come to Ancelotti’s defense, but Ronaldo has also never looked to stir the pot.
This situation is nothing new to Ancelotti. The 55-year-old was fired from his position at Chelsea by known trigger-happy owner Roman Abramovich despite a second-place league finish. Looking back, Ancelotti could easily argue he unfairly drew Abramovich’s ire, but he wouldn’t be the first to feel that way.
Whatever stability Real Madrid fans will be hoping for, Perez has always put his lust for silverware before that sentiment. Now he must choose his ego or his players. It’s likely he won’t get both in this situation.