Carlo Ancelotti, renowned for his tactical flexibility, has tailored Real Madrid’s approach to leverage the team’s strengths. Initially adopting a 4-3-1-2 formation, he positioned Jude Bellingham as an attacking midfielder behind Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes, both granted free roles to exploit their creativity. This setup allowed Bellingham to contribute significantly to the attack while maintaining defensive responsibilities.
Ancelotti emphasizes defensive organization, focusing on structured defending to provide a foundation for attacking play. He believes that a well-organized defense enables players to make effective decisions in attack, fostering a balance between defensive solidity and offensive freedom.
In adapting to opponents, Ancelotti has shown tactical adaptability. For instance, against Shakhtar Donetsk, he instructed his team to avoid pressing high, aiming to disrupt the opponent’s build-up play. Similarly, in matches against Manchester City, he employed a low defensive block to counter their attacking prowess, demonstrating a pragmatic approach tailored to specific challenges.
This blend of structured defense, positional flexibility, and situational tactics underscores Ancelotti’s philosophy of adapting strategies to the team’s evolving dynamics and varying match contexts.