A man in a suit and another in a Real Madrid sports uniform on a soccer field during a match.
FIRST TEAM

Ancelotti and Davide Were Very Satisfied in the Derby for This Reason: 'They Are Already Starting'

The white team's coaches have begun their analysis of the match at Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid Signed a Draw Against Atlético Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu. That unsatisfactory draw leaves everything as it is in the fight for the LaLiga leadership, awaiting FC Barcelona. Hansi Flick's pupils face Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán with the opportunity to tighten the top three positions in the table even more.

In any case, in Santiago Bernabéu locker room, they must be unaware of that circumstance. At least until the match against Osasuna next weekend. Before the visit to El Sadar, it is necessary to face one of the most challenging away games of the season: Etihad Stadium.

Two players compete for the ball in a match, one in a white uniform and the other in a red and blue uniform, while a referee watches the play.
Dani Ceballos tries to get past Pablo Barrios in the Madrid classic | Real Madrid

The visit to Manchester City's stadium will require all footballers trained by Carlo Ancelotti to be in top form, something that still doesn't seem very clear. Several players, such as Jude Bellingham and Vinícius, suffer from physical exhaustion due to the efforts made during the past Madrid classic. While they advance with their race against time recovery, Carlo and Davide Ancelotti begin to draw the first conclusions from that clash.

One of the most striking has to do with those two footballers, as well as two other teammates in the attack zone: Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes. The connection between the three forwards and the English attacking midfielder has slowly improved this season, but it still doesn't produce the desired results for the Madrid coaches in goals and assists.

Focus of Work

The promising plays that those four footballers wove during the classic make it clear to the Ancelottis that "they're starting to understand each other". Such understanding is one of the battles for the Madrid coaching staff this season, a connection that is slowly beginning to bear its first fruits. But there is still much work to be done.

While it is true that the Madrid classic marks a turning point in this objective, the matches against Manchester City will be another high-level test. Carlo and Davide Ancelotti have worked, since last August 2024, on strengthening the competitive bonds between those four players.

Soccer players celebrating a goal on the field in white uniforms.
The "Cuatro Fantásticos" celebrate a goal at Santiago Bernabéu | Real Madrid Confidencial

The progress they have experienced to date was within their expectations, but the double match against the sky blue squad could be the ideal test for the Madrid 'Fantastic Four'. This information published by the newspaper MARCA makes it clear that improving the bond between Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, and Rodrygo Goes could mark the success of the current season.

At the same time, it facilitates the creation of a leadership core both inside and outside Santiago Bernabéu locker room. When players like Luka Modric or Lucas Vázquez end their time as Madridists, they will be responsible for assuming that role... so they must be fully prepared to follow the steps set by their predecessors.

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