In his career, Carlo Ancelotti has experienced all kinds of crises. Whether at Milan, PSG or Bayern. At Real Madrid too, the Italian experienced particularly delicate moments.
After the painful defeat of the Clasico and an unconvincing start to the season, with six points behind Barça, three other draws in La Liga and a new defeat in the Champions League against Lille, the Madrid coach sees the old demons of the 2014-2015 season. That season, the Italian was on a good wave, with titles and historic series which were abruptly interrupted.
The technician had won a record 22 consecutive games, had just won the Champions League in Lisbon the previous season and, although he did not win La Liga, this season was rich in titles: Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. However, the defeat at Mestalla in January put an end to this excellent run and, immediately after, another defeat against Atlético in the Copa (2-0), set off alarms.
In February 2015, the coach suffered a resounding 4-0 defeat at the Calderón, also lost against Barça and Athletic Club in La Liga and, although he managed to get the team back on track in the league (92 points ), it was not enough to catch up with Barça. In the Champions League, he lost in the semi-final against Juventus. The club then dedicated to thank him and brought in Rafa Benitez to replace him.
This season, Ancelotti once again faces the challenge of getting back on track. As at the time, a series of invincibility has just ended with the defeat in the Clasico. Although he failed to surpass Valverde's 43 matches without defeat at Barça, he broke Real's all-time record with 42 consecutive matches without defeat. It remains to be seen how he will emerge from this new crisis. Unlike the first, he has a contract valid until 2026.
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The numerous injuries didn't help either, but the 0-4 defeat against Barça confirmed for many the weaknesses of this team without Kroos and with Mbappé. Carletto has not yet found the key to the product of these two substantial changes. The coach also did not find the ideal place for Bellingham, in decline after having shone during his first year, victim of the change of system, the defensive weakness or the physical decline observed during the second half of the Clasico .
With the match at the Mestalla postponed, Ancelotti must wait for the Champions League match against Milan on Tuesday to gauge the impact of the latest defeat at the Bernabéu and the ability of his troops to bounce back. At the club, we hope and believe in a reaction. But more than ever, Carlo Ancelotti is once again facing the ghosts of the 2014-15 season, during which his team completely collapsed.
