Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, credited the team’s ability to adopt “many styles” of play for their impressive 38-match unbeaten run in La Liga. Speaking on Monday, Ancelotti emphasized that Real Madrid’s adaptability on the field has been key to their sustained success.
The reigning Spanish and European champions lost just one league game last season, a 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on September 24, 2023. Since then, they have managed to avoid another loss in La Liga, effectively completing a full campaign without defeat, bridging last season and the current one. Despite some criticism in the Spanish media regarding their tactics, Ancelotti dismissed the notion that his team plays poorly.
“For me, I don’t think it’s like that, that we play badly,” Ancelotti said during a press conference. “What stands out the most is that Real Madrid, over these years, doesn’t have one single identity. We have done things well, defended well in a low block, had very quick transitions, and managed possession well in some games. Not having a clear identity makes some think that we don’t have a style. And that’s the truth, we don’t have a style, we have many styles.”
Barcelona currently holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in La Liga, going 43 games without a loss between April 2017 and May 2018, under the guidance of Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde.
Real Madrid will host Alaves on Tuesday, where Ancelotti will mark his 300th game in charge of the club across two managerial spells. The team, sitting four points behind league leaders Barcelona, is looking to close that gap.
When asked whether top scorer Kylian Mbappe would start against Alaves, Ancelotti suggested there may be “some rotations” in the lineup. Vinicius Junior, who started on the bench in Madrid’s 4-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday, could feature more prominently. During that match, Madrid struggled to find the back of the net in the first half, a recurring issue this season, but dominated in the second half to secure the victory.
“We should put more intensity in, but understanding that teams lower their intensity in the second halves and there’s more space,” Ancelotti explained.
Jude Bellingham, who appeared to injure his shoulder during the Espanyol match, is expected to be fit to face Alaves. The midfielder had previously struggled with a similar shoulder issue last season.
In other team news, Ancelotti confirmed reports that French defender Ferland Mendy has extended his contract with the club until 2027.
