Patient Ancelotti must start afresh

In the most literary of the new La Liga season’s previews, AS editor Alfredo Relaño wrote that Carlo Ancelotti reminded him of mythical Greek hero Sisyphus.

This is because 12 months ago Ancelotti had a squad packed with talented attacking players, but did not have a tactical system in which all could shine.

It took time, but as the season progressed, the Italian coach — and his English assistant Paul Clement — designed a 4-3-3 shape which provided both the defensive balance required and allowed galactico forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to wreak havoc on opposition defences. Such an effort brought the long-awaited ‘Decima’ Champions League title last May, and it seemed Ancelotti — like Sisyphus — had managed to roll the rock to the top of the peak.

But then after the World Cup, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez spent more than €100m on two new galacticos — the tournament’s top scorer James Rodriguez and one of its best midfielders, Toni Kroos of champions Germany.

Cue a new tactical headache for Ancelotti — who Relaño said was starting with his rock at the base of the mountain again.

The biggest issue is the loss of Angel Di Maria, whose hard work off the ball and direct running in possession were key to making last season’s 4-3-3 work. Di Maria scored the opening goal in Madrid’s Copa del Rey final win over Barcelona, and was then man of the match in the Champions League decider against neighbours Atletico Madrid.

But Perez has never seemed to rate the Argentinian, who has regularly through recent years complained about wages that puts him near the base of the Bernabeu club’s salary scale. Di Maria — and his agent Jorge Mendes — thought that his performances deserve remuneration alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos or Karim Benzema, but instead he earned close to the same as young reserves such as Asier Illarramendi or Raphael Varane.

This ‘snub’ means that — in a way — Di Maria is being forced out of the club, with Manchester United having offered a salary more in keeping with his status in the game.

Last week’s Spanish Supercopa defeat to Atletico showed the work now to be done. Di Maria was a late substitute in Tuesday’s 1-1 first leg draw at the Bernabeu, then left out of the squad completely for Friday’s 1-0 return game at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. And Diego Simeone’s well organised side were full value for their win, with the attack-minded James especially struggling in an unfamiliar midfield role.

The importance of the missing man could be seen in both coaches’ reactions after the games. After the first leg, Simeone suggested unprompted that his fellow countryman was actually Madrid’s best player as “his ability to unbalance games helps everyone else to play well”. Then on Friday he suggested with a smile if Madrid did not want Di Maria, Atletico would take him.

Meanwhile Ancelotti has been uncharacteristically narky through his media appearances last week.

After repeatedly saying he wanted Di Maria to stay at the club, the Italian claimed before the second leg the winger had now asked to leave. Then after that game, he said he left him out of the match squad “for technical reasons, as I did not need him”. By Sunday, Carletto was thanking the player for his work last season, and saying goodbye.

Ancelotti has not and will not criticise Perez in public, however. He and Clement will get to work redesigning the team shape to get the best from the squad they have. It’s a ‘Sisyphean’ task but that’s what being Real coach involves.