{"id":1260126,"date":"2022-05-02T14:43:54","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T13:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1260126"},"modified":"2022-05-02T15:27:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T14:27:41","slug":"carlo-ancelotti-real-madrid-la-liga-title-five-points","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/carlo-ancelotti-real-madrid-la-liga-title-five-points\/","title":{"rendered":"How Carlo Ancelotti conquered La Liga with Real Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"

In securing La Liga with victory over Espanyol at the weekend, Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to ever win all five of Europe’s top five leagues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Italian maestro has overseen a return to silverware following Real Madrid\u2019s first trophy-less campaign since 2009\/10, and he’s done so in style. Following these five main themes, Ancelotti has guided Real Madrid to success.<\/p>\n

Avoiding rotation<\/h2>\n

One of the core themes of Madrid\u2019s season has been that Ancelotti has not rotated his squad. That gamble was one that could have backfired had it not paid off, but it\u2019s worked spectacularly. Ancelotti has achieved the perfect balance to exploit the historic talents of his ageing players, without compromising elsewhere.<\/p>\n

In fact, squad players have been reserved until the final few weeks of the season. In midfield, Dani Ceballos only made his first La Liga start in matchday 33, while in defence Jes\u00fas Vallejo was reserved until matchday 34. Luka Jovi\u0107 is yet to start a game in the league and Mariano D\u00edaz made only his second start all season in the league-winning game against Espanyol.<\/p>\n

Ten players have played more than 50% of minutes available in La Liga, including the likes of 36-year-old Luka Modri\u0107, 34-year-old Karim Benzema, 32-year-old Toni Kroos and 30-year-old Casemiro. All four have been regulars and essential to Real Madrid\u2019s success, with their experience and taste for victory guiding the youngsters like Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde.<\/p>\n

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Building a solid defence<\/h2>\n

When Real Madrid lost both of their starting central defenders in Sergio Ramos and Rapha\u00ebl Varane last summer, it\u2019s fair to say that Madridistas were concerned. The duo had been the imperial combination that had ruled Europe for years, and both departed the Spanish capital in a matter of weeks. <\/p>\n

Ancelotti was left with the inconsistent \u00c9der Milit\u00e3o, the substandard Nacho and free signing David Alaba. Integrating the versatile Austrian so rapidly has been essential not only to building a solid defensive unit, but also getting the best out of Milit\u00e3o. And so Alaba has taken up the reins of a leader.<\/p>\n

Only Sevilla have conceded fewer goals, while Real Madrid average 0.85 goals conceded per game, a remarkable figure. With the best goalkeeper in Spain in Thibaut Courtois behind a solid, new-look back four, Ancelotti has done well. Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy\u2019s ongoing injury issues have made it a tough task, but in Nacho, Lucas V\u00e1zquez and Marcelo, he has found capable deputies. <\/p>\n

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2021\/22 Champions League outright odds<\/h2>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Club<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\r\nSky Bet<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Manchester City<\/strong><\/td>\r\n2\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Bayern Munich<\/strong><\/td>\r\n9\/2<\/b><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Arsenal<\/strong><\/td>\r\n11\/2<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Real Madrid<\/strong><\/td>\r\n11\/2<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
PSG<\/strong><\/td>\r\n11\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Barcelona<\/strong><\/td>\r\n16\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Inter Milan<\/strong><\/td>\r\n20\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Atletico Madrid<\/strong><\/td>\r\n22\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Borussia Dortmund<\/strong><\/td>\r\n33\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Napoli<\/strong><\/td>\r\n33\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Real Sociedad<\/strong><\/td>\r\n50\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
RB Leipzig<\/strong><\/td>\r\n66\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
You have to be 18+ to gamble. All odds within this article are accurate at the time of writing (12:30, 25\/01\/2024). GambleAware<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\r\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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Getting the best out of Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior<\/h2>\n

The star of the show this season has been Karim Benzema, but he\u2019s been the team\u2019s goal-getter for some time. The difference this time around under Ancelotti has come from Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior. The Brazilian was also identified as a player with phenomenal raw potential, but lacking end product. Until now.<\/p>\n

In three seasons at the club, he had only scored seven league goals. In 2021\/22, he\u2019s doubled that tally to 14 in a single campaign. Ancelotti has given him the belief and space in which to operate, giving him more importance in the team and encouraging his link-up play with Benzema, with the Frenchman\u2019s movement opening up spaces for the winger to cut inside and have a go himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cAncelotti has arrived and given me the confidence that I need,\u201d the Brazilian said in November. <\/p>\n

Others say that even Ancelotti has been surprised by the performances of Vin\u00edcius, having under-performed against his xG by -3.47 last season, now over-performing by 1.66. The turnaround under the Italian has been remarkable, and pivotal to Real Madrid\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

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Winning when it matters<\/h2>\n

A look at the teams against whom Real Madrid have dropped points shows that this is a team accustomed to winning under pressure. Fans who don\u2019t follow Los Blancos<\/em> so closely will have seen their European escapades and historic victories there, but that is a feat replicated in La Liga.<\/p>\n

Villarreal, with two 0-0 draws, are the only team to take points off the champions in both meetings this season, while Barcelona are the only top-six team to have taken any points off Madrid at the Bernab\u00e9u. It may have been a historic 4-0 thrashing, but those three points were the only three dropped in a fixture against a top-six rival.<\/p>\n

When it comes to points dropped, they have come in draws against Levante, Villarreal, Osasuna, C\u00e1diz and Elche, while defeats have come against Espanyol, Getafe and Barcelona. They are all matches which, on paper at least, Real Madrid should have been winning with ease. And it\u2019s hard to say that they don\u2019t do that when necessary too, as Madrid have scored four against as many teams as they have dropped points against.<\/p>\n\n

Having a slice of fortune<\/h2>\n

As much as we can praise Ancelotti and his squad, it must be pointed out that Real Madrid haven\u2019t had much stiff competition in La Liga this season. It\u2019s been four years since a team won the title so early on and it speaks volumes that their closest competition is Barcelona, a side who were outside the European places at the halfway point of the season.<\/p>\n

Defending champions Atl\u00e9tico Madrid have faltered spectacularly, to the point of some calling for the head of their much-loved coach Diego Simeone. Sevilla looked to be the closest thing to title challengers but then endured a spell of only four wins in 14 games to fade away. <\/p>\n

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Carlo Ancelotti is the first manager to win a league title in each of Europe\u2019s top five divisions:<\/p>\n

??? AC Milan (2003\/04)
???????? Chelsea (2009\/10)
??? PSG (2012\/13)
??? Bayern (2016\/17)
??? Real Madrid (2021\/22)<\/p>\n

Don Carlo completes the set. ?<\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 30, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n