Exclusive: Carlo Ancelotti's Master Plan to Revive Real Madrid's Season and Secure His Job

• Real Madrid trail 3-0 after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
• He is under increasing pressure, especially with Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings
• LISTEN NOW: The Debate Heats Up! Is it Justified for Manchester United or Tottenham to Secure Direct Entry Into the Champions League If They Win the Europa League?

Nervously puffing away from within his private suite at Alaves' Mendizorroza Stadium on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti looked worried.

He could not affect the outcome since he was suspended and thus absent when his team clung to a narrow 1-0 advantage with only ten players on the field. Kylian Mbappe was released. However, it might have been due to his grip being broken. Real Madrid job is loosening.

He knows Xabi Alonso is poised backstage and Champions League leave as a result of Arsenal On Wednesday evening, coupled with an inability to apprehend Barcelona in La Liga — being four points ahead with seven games left — would result in Madrid changing coaches this summer.

Throughout the entire season, the Italian manager has faced difficulties due to an unbalanced team with strength at the top but weakness elsewhere, and he remains without a solution even as the most crucial match of the season approaches.

The team’s famed history of epic comebacks in this competition, and the possibility that Mbappe and Vinicius Jr will click in a way they have not really done all season, are branches for the 64-year-old to cling to.

We went through a terrible thirty-minute period and simply couldn't respond," stated Ancelotti following the initial match. "We depended on individual players making plays, but we weren't cohesive as a unit, which has been an issue throughout the entire season.

Since the summer, he has begun voicing his thoughts openly about the situation where Toni Kroos wasn’t brought in as reinforcement. This left him responsible for integrating Vinicius and Mbappe’s exceptional skills into the team. However, their strong personalities and inclination towards occupying the same areas on the field posed significant challenges. Additionally, this had to be managed without a solid enough defensive line or midfield support backing them up.

Mbappe disappointed his teammates over the weekend with a dangerous tackle that could have seriously injured Antonio Blanco’s leg. The subsequent red card left Madrid struggling precisely when they needed a straightforward match.

They emerged victorious in the match, recording their first shutout in ten games. In conclusion, Antonio Rudiger was heard yelling 'remontada!' (' comeback! ') as he approached Madrid’s visiting supporters.

They displayed banners with the identical slogan. This has been their main topic of discussion since the Emirates fiasco.

In a somewhat more detached and analytical manner, television commentator and ex-Barcelona player Gerard Lopez stated on Sunday: “I don’t envision them achieving this due to their current style of play.”

Ancelotti is considering several adjustments for his lineup from the first leg match. He welcomes back Aurélien Tchouaméni, his top defensive midfielder, following a ban. In place of the suspended Éduoard Camavinga, who received an early dismissal with a red card during the last game at Arsenal, he might shift Federico Valverde to partner up with Tchouaméni in central midfield.

Valverde, the energetic Uruguayan midfielder, wields considerable power from central midfield. However, this implies that Lucas Vazquez, who was once a winger and an uncertain presence as a defender, may have to step into the role of right-back.

The alternative would be to field ex-Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos, who has returned following a six-week absence due to injury.

Before suffering from a hamstring injury, he was the nearest substitute for the departed Kroos that Ancelotti could find.Mbappe’s red card on Sunday spoiled the coach's plan to provide him with a thirty-minute playing opportunity.

No matter which choice Ancelotti makes, the 'Four Fantastiques' seem indispensable. Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham have collectively netted 80 goals; however, apart from Bellingham, their commitment to hard work frequently stands out for all the wrong reasons. Against stronger opponents, Real Madrid has struggled significantly due to this lackadaisical approach.

On two occasions, Barcelona has dominated them with scores of 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final and 4-0 in La Liga. Additionally, both Milan and Liverpool have emerged victorious against them. Among their significant matches, only Manchester City hasn’t been outplayed by Ancelotti’s squad.

A recent survey conducted by Spain's Diario AS received responses from 14,000 participants, with 53 percent attributing the possibly disappointing season to 'poor planning.' Thirty percent held the players responsible, whereas just 17 percent criticized the coach.

However, this may not rescue Ancelotti if they fail to advance on Wednesday evening, though Real Madrid still has a taste for dramatic encounters.

Out of the past 11 UEFA Champions League titles, six have been claimed by the Spanish side, each victory marked by remarkable comebacks. 'Should any team be able to do it, it would certainly be them,' stated Vazquez.

'At the Bernabeu, anything can occur,' Bellingham said additionally.

Fans will welcome the team bus with their customary roar and cloud of flare smoke; however, for Real Madrid to reverse the outcome from the first match, they must deliver a display they haven’t achieved throughout this entire season, while hoping Arsenal crumbles under pressure.

Ancelotti, planning to replace his vape with a pack of chewed gum on the sidelines, holds the record for winning this competition more times than anyone else. He understands that although the chances seem slim, his team still has an opportunity to succeed.

However, he is aware that Madrid hasn't found the net in the Champions League for 245 minutes and has let in 11 goals over their previous five matches.

They managed to secure just 15 out of the available 24 points during the league phase and Vinicius hasn’t found the back of the net in European competitions since January. Additionally, he failed to get past his marker even once when they played at the Emirates.

The team's history of achieving remarkable feats suggests they have what it takes to pull this off. However, logic indicates that both they and their coach might be facing departure soon.

When asked about his mindset heading into the game, Ancelotti responded: "I have been through similar matches in this tournament before. Here’s hoping it won’t be my final time."

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