Bayern the acid test for Ancelotti’s philosophy
But that’s quite different from saying 2014 Madrid will be a match for Josep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in their upcoming Champions League semi-finals.
Wednesday’s clash between Madrid and Barcelona in Valencia brought back memories of the previous meeting between the two at the same Mestalla stadium three years before.
That game came during 2011’s ‘storm of clasicos’ when Mourinho — stung by a 5-0 defeat the previous November — decided the only way to beat Guardiola’s Barca was to out-battle them.
Hulking centre-back Pepe played in midfield in that Copa decider, and a scrappy game was decided by a string of saves by Blancos keeper Iker Casillas and then Cristiano Ronaldo’s header in extra-time.
Ancelotti’s Madrid also won their ‘Clasico Copa’ final, but the game was much more free-flowing, with just 13 fouls in total, compared to 50 three years ago.
This more gentle, attractive approach was in keeping with almost the very first words the Italian said as Blancos coach, when he faced the media at his presentation last July. “The most prestigious club in the world needs to win, playing spectacular football,” Ancelotti said then. “This club’s history and tradition is to play offensively, entertainingly. We are going to work to play football that can give happiness to the fans.”
This talk of spectacular, attacking football went down really well among supporters and pundits at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu who had grown tired of Mourinho’s ‘win at all costs’ mentality.
And Madrid have been a much more offensive team this season, top-scoring in La Liga so far (94 goals in 33 games), banging in a record 32 in 10 Champions League matches.
Gareth Bale’s superb solo winner on Wednesday also finished a successful Copa del Rey campaign in which Madrid scored 15 times and conceded just once.
Beforehand Ancelotti claimed his team would look to control the proceedings by keeping the ball, although he accepted that would be difficult against a side good at hogging possession.
The big difference from 2011 was that Pepe was back in defence, with slight playmaker Isco instead given a start in central midfield. The 21-year-old was excellent, working hard to close down Xavi Hernandez and company, but also having the ability to construct attacks when Madrid won the ball back. Ancelotti later said that even though his team had played a lot on the counter, his tactics had been positive.
“We tried to apply pressure up front, to have control of the game,” he explained. “In the first half we were giving the ball away when we should have had more possession. We prepared a team with four midfielders when we were defending, but we were attacking as always, with Bale on the wing and the full-backs going forward.”
The Italian also agreed with a suggestion that the victory would be useful ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League first leg against Bayern at the Bernabeu.
“The victory is very important for us to keep a good mood in the dressing room and to help prepare for the next game,” he said. “Bayern Munich have a similar style to Barcelona.”
But the all-conquering Bundesliga champions are a much stronger outfit than a Barca side which appears now in terminal decline.
Ancelotti was right to proclaim the Copa final win as a triumph for his attacking philosophy, but the next fortnight will tell us if his change in emphasis can deliver what Mourinho could not — a first Champions League decider in over a decade for Madrid.
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