Davide Ancelotti says Real Madrid must build its own balance rather than search for “another Toni Kroos”, while describing Vinicius Junior as a player who cannot be changed and Jose Mourinho as an ideal candidate for the Spanish club.
The 37-year-old Italian, now head coach of Lille after working alongside his father Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid, spoke to Spanish newspaper AS about his coaching philosophy, modern football and his ambition to manage Real Madrid one day.
Ancelotti joined Lille after a difficult spell with Brazil, having moved from the World Cup to France almost overnight.
“That was good for me, honestly, because what happened with Brazil was extremely difficult,” he said.
He believes Lille offer a stable model based on hard work, high standards and careful planning. The club regularly compete in European competitions, produce outstanding players and sell them without damaging their sporting project.
“Lille get positive results, compete strongly and play in the Champions League. It is unique in football today,” he said.
Ancelotti also rejected the idea that Ligue 1 lacks strength, comparing its intensity and competitiveness with the Premier League.
“If you arrive here thinking you will have time to control the ball and think, you are wrong,” he said.
Defensive foundations
Ancelotti believes the leading teams in modern football now prioritise defending, whether they use zonal or man-to-man marking. He cited Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain as examples of teams with strong defensive foundations, while Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid when pressing aggressively also use man-marking principles.
That approach requires defenders capable of winning individual duels, including William Saliba and Gabriel at Arsenal, and Marquinhos and Pacho at Paris Saint-Germain.
He praised Spain’s technical, collective identity and said Italy, traditionally renowned for defensive strength, need greater stability after the work of Roberto Mancini and Luciano Spalletti.
Ancelotti enjoys watching the current Barcelona, particularly their direct style and Raphinha’s movement when used as a central striker. He also admires Unai Emery’s defensive organisation, Mikel Arteta’s structure, Luis Enrique’s work and Diego Simeone’s preparation for major matches. He added that coaches including Roberto De Zerbi and Jurgen Klopp also offer valuable lessons.
Kroos cannot be replaced
Kroos’s departure from Real Madrid, he said, meant losing “the best player in the world in his position”.
“You cannot say, ‘I need another Kroos’, because there is no player like him,” Ancelotti said.
Kroos controlled the rhythm and speed of matches, covered about 11 kilometres per game, defended intelligently and possessed exceptional tactical awareness.
“He made me a better coach. His departure was a huge loss,” Ancelotti added.
He believes Rodri could succeed at Real Madrid but said the club should not attempt to replicate Kroos. “With Rodri or without him, Real Madrid will remain a strong contender until the end,” he said.
Ancelotti described Vinicius as a committed player who has scored in two Champions League finals and never misses training.
“You cannot change Vini, but you can change the team’s basic structure around him,” he said, adding that combining him with Kylian Mbappe creates enormous attacking power while demanding tactical balance.
He also insisted Real Madrid’s players do not control the team: “In the Real Madrid dressing room, the coach makes the decisions.”
Mourinho, he said, is “the ideal coach at the moment” because he loves Real Madrid and has huge motivation. Ancelotti regards his father as his greatest example, but knows he must establish his own career before earning a chance at the club.
“Real Madrid is everyone’s dream, and mine too,” he said. “But it depends on whether I deserve it.”
