Florentino the 12th man in Ancelotti's happy family

Posted Sunday, August 11, 2013 by Marca.com

Real Madrid is currently undergoing a change of style, on and off the pitch. There is still work to be done to assimilate Carlo Ancelotti's ideas. The coach's forward-thinking approach is bringing about some significant changes to some players' positions and the general system of a team that had grown accustomed to playing Mourinho's 4-2-3-1 over the past three years.

Outside of the tactical work overseen by Carletto and followed very closely by Zinedine Zidane, there is a more psychological role involving group relationships which is being worked on very hard. A breath of fresh air is currently blowing through the squad and this could help repair some of the damage caused during the Mourinho era. It is not the time to point fingers, but rather to move on and begin a new and exciting era at the club.

Florentino Pérez has been acting as the club's 12th man on the tour. He did not miss the squad's first training session in St. Louis and used this time to chat and joke with Ancelotti, with whom he has an excellent relationship. The pair speak often and the president periodically informs the coach of how negotiations are going with Tottenham for Welshman Gareth Bale. The Madrid president has sought to protect the team during this pre-season, which is why he has accompanied the players and the new manager throughout their trip stateside.