Carlo Ancelotti does not envisage changing Real Madrid’s tactical approach but opts to rotate his squad in the new season.
The Italian tactician started new signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos in their first competitive appearance in the ‘Whites’s’ shirt in Tuesday’s Uefa Super Cup triumph over Sevilla.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace handed ‘Los Merengues’ their first trophy of the new season. The Spanish giants could add five more silverwares this season in the La Liga, Uefa Champions League, Uefa Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and the Super Cup de Espana.
Real fancied an all-inclusive, rapid, counter-attacking style en route to claiming the Uefa Champions League title and the Copa del Rey last season. The Madrid club have now added Colombian midfielder Rodriguez- winner of the golden boot at this summer World Cup in Brazil-, Germany World Cup winner Kroos and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas to its squad in the close season.
And alongside Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the European champions now boast the most expensively-assembled attack (around £246m) in football history, and the ex-Milan boss admits it is difficult to “improve” such gathering of talented footballers.
“It’s hard to improve this team,” the 55-year-old said. “We have an outstanding set of players and what’s important is to use the squad to its full capacity.
“I can’t think that with this squad I can have a permanent starting XI because they’re all outstanding players and to be competitive in all competitions, we need to rotate our players and use the whole squad.”
Navas had an impressive run at the World Cup, but watched Tuesday’s victory from the bench having returned to training just last week, along with Rodriguez and Kroos; Ancelotti has got a squad of many first team potentials but does not see the need to change tactics to accommodate them.
We have an outstanding set of players and what’s important is to use the squad to its full capacity
“We can still use counter-attacks and fast breaks, Kroos played in the same position as Xabi Alonso and with the same purpose, to circulate the ball and whenever possible to use the speed of our forwards,” the ex-Milan coach said.
He added: “I think we might be starting a very important cycle, because we have a squad of extraordinary quality.
“We need to work very hard and make the necessary sacrifices. We can reach the highest heights and compete in all the competitions.”
Ancelotti had prior to Super Cup kick-off disclosed that Ronaldo, who struggled with a knee problem during the World Cup and played just once in pre-season- is fully fit to start the new season.
The manager described the Portuguese winger as “the best player on the pitch” after his Man-of-the-Match display in Wales.
“He scored two fantastic goals and played really well all game,” he added.
