The 2024-2025 season is clearly a failure by Real Madrid's standards. But that will not tarnish coach Carlo Ancelotti's legacy.
His second tenure at the Bernabeu with 11 titles - including 2 Champions League titles in 4 years - has ensured that.
When Zinedine Zidane left in May 2021, angry at the club's disfavor, Ancelotti was not on the list of replacement candidates.
Ancelotti's first tenure, from 2013 to 2015, brought La Decima, the club's 10th European Cup. However, it did not end well.
There is dissatisfaction with the way Ancelotti's sacking is handled. And anyway, it was 6 years ago. Most people see Ancelotti's top-level coaching career as coming to an end.
Ancelotti was unwilling to accept that. He explained that, in a conversation with Real Madrid about potential signings for Everton, he proposed to replace Zidane.
What happened after that was like a dream. In his first season back, Benzema's important goals helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga.
The next campaign was more difficult. Ancelotti was on the brink of losing his job in 2023, when he was first lured by Brazil. Instead, the 65-year-old has signed a new contract, and had a perfect 2023-2024 season.
He and Los Blancos won a double title, including the Champions League. That could be Ancelotti's best return. He called it the "10/10 season."
But as Ancelotti admitted after the Champions League final at Wembley: "Real Madrid are never satisfied". Therefore, failure this season requires changes, and one of them is the coach.
Real's problems in the 2024-2025 season have been fully documented. The problems started last summer, when key players left and were not replaced. Not only Toni Kroos, but his absence was felt most deeply. That was also the departure of Nacho and Joselu.
The "White Vultures" have brought to the Bernabeu a big superstar Kylian Mbappe. However, in midfield and defense, they do not have the necessary assurance.
Sources told ESPN that Ancelotti had pushed for player recruitment but failed. However, he has never criticized the club in front of the media.
"Since I'm here, Real Madrid have signed Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe. Can I request additional signing? No," said the Italian captain.
It is even worse when the two defenders considered the best of Los Blancos, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, are both suffering from long-term injuries. By the end of the season, all 4 of Real Madrid's top defenders were absent.
Injuries and pre-existing problems of Real Madrid will be difficult for any coach to overcome. But that did not protect Ancelotti from criticism.
A coach's job is to maximize the abilities of the players they have. Ancelotti worked with an all-star team, but they performed poorly.
The proof of their failed campaign was 4 consecutive losses to arch-rivals Barcelona, with scores of 0-4, 2-5, 2-3 and 3-4 respectively. In addition to the 1-5 final defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, it means Ancelotti will leave, a year before his contract expires. The only question is when and how his departure will be officially announced.
Brazil's hastily finding a new coach has led to a strange scenario. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced that Ancelotti would leave the Bernabeu on May 12, nearly two weeks before Real Madrid announced it. This put Ancelotti in a difficult position. And he handled the situation as well as possible.
"When you come to Real Madrid, you know that one day everything will be over. I cannot be a Real Madrid coach forever. Maybe the club need new motivation. Maybe it's time for a change," Ancelotti said, a day after the CBF made public its signing.
Ancelotti's reputation will not be affected by what happened this season. If so, the way he handled the breakup solemnly has contributed to saving it.
"People can have their own opinions - positive or negative - about me as a coach. But I want to be remembered as a good person" - Ancelotti affirmed.
