Carlo Ancelotti set for new Real Madrid deal

Posted Tuesday, November 04, 2014 by skysports.com

Carlo Ancelotti set for new Real Madrid deal
Revista de La Liga: Champions League holders thriving under Italian

Carlo Ancelotti is on the brink of signing a new deal with Real Madrid, after his ruthless side stormed to the top of La Liga.

That was the news revealed by Guillem Balague on Revista de La Liga on Monday night, as the panel assessed Los Blancos’ 4-0 drubbing of Granada – the club’s 11th consecutive victory in all competitions.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to grab the headlines and netted in his 12th consecutive match in all competitions on Saturday, taking his La Liga tally to an incredible 17 in nine games this term.

However, Gaizka Mendieta says Ancelotti has created a system which allows all of Real’s stars to shine – and the team have responded with a tenacious – and merciless - attitude.

"He’s made the system work for the benefit of all the individuals,” said the former Valencia and Barcelona midfielder.

"Ronaldo has been scoring goals but also James Rodriguez and Isco, the work ethic they put into the team gives them balance in attack and defence. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are playing at the top level as well.

"They’ve changed a bit their mentality with the confidence they have at the moment, too. They want to win games, score the second goal and the third goal. We saw last season how they were happy with 1-0 and took their foot off the gas and gave opportunities to the opposition team. But against Granada they wanted to score one more goal.

"This team has more possibilities, not just the counter attack, as we’ve seen in the past.

"At the moment this Real is looking very good. Every player that has the ball has so many options, their movement is the difference. We’re only in November and we’ll have to see how this team arrives when the decision time comes but so far, so good for Real Madrid.

"That’s down to Ancelotti and also the attitude of the players. We’ve seen in the past Real with quality players not really tracking back and defending but we’re seeing with this Real something is changing.”

Renew

Balague expects Ancelotti’s extension to be announced shortly – but pointed out things could have been very different for the Italian, had Real not produced a thrilling comeback against Atletico in the Champions League final.

"It seems like the club has already negotiated a new deal with him,” said Balague. “His deal finishes in 2016 so the possibility is to renew it until 2017 or 2018.

"It’s funny because if that corner from Modric in minute 93 of the Champions League final had gone one centimetre the wrong way and Sergio Ramos had headed it wrongly, Ancelotti would have been sacked.

"[Real Madrid president Florentino] Perez didn’t believe completely in what he was doing. If they hadn’t won the Champions League, they also did badly in the league against a Barcelona who were poor and Atletico Madrid who won the league, he would have been sacked.”