If Carlo Ancelotti were to leave this season, Real Madrid could call on a former coach.
A few hours after Real Madrid's morale-boosting victory over Osasuna, Santiago Solari (48) left De María restaurant with his family. Earlier he had exchanged greetings with Fede Valverde, whom he had met at the establishment near Madrid's stadium.
The current football director of Real Madrid seemed calm, despite a turbulent week marked by heavy defeats at home – Barcelona (0-4) in LaLiga and Milan (1-3) in the Champions League – and a painful encounter against Osasuna, where three key players were injured . Among them, Éder Militão suffered a seasonal injury, a cruel déjà vu from last year.
Solari is a familiar presence in the stands of the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, whether in Castilla or Youth League matches, and is increasingly seen as a potential successor to Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti is under pressure to perform
The Italian coach is facing mounting pressure after a string of poor results, with even the upper echelons of training agencies reportedly doubting his ability to turn the season around.
The humiliating loss to Barcelona, followed by the Champions League defeat to Milan, has left Ancelotti in a precarious position. Despite his past resilience in such situations, this time feels different. Losses to perceived underdogs Lille and Milan in Europe, combined with injuries to Militão, Lucas Vázquez and Rodrygo – none of whom will be fit for the crucial match against Liverpool at Anfield – have further complicated the scenario. While the horror victory over Osasuna offers a glimmer of hope, doubts remain.
This is where Solari's figure looms as a contingency plan if results don't improve. The Argentinian coach is no stranger to stepping into the breach at Real Madrid. Although his previous spell as manager, which started mid-season in October 2018, ended poorly, it laid the foundations for the club's future.
Solari made bold decisions during his tenure and promoted youth talents such as Vinícius Júnior, Sergio Reguilón and Marcos Llorente. While only Vinícius remains at the club, the others moved on, with Reguilón joining Tottenham and Llorente moving to Atlético Madrid in 2019.
Solari has the worst Real Madrid record ever
Solari's interim appointment in 2018 came after Julen Lopetegui's disastrous 5-1 defeat to Barcelona. Players in the Camp Nou dressing room reportedly resisted the idea of Antonio Conte replacing Lopetegui, with captain Sergio Ramos famously saying: “Respect is earned, not imposed. We've won everything with coaches, you know, and people management is more important than tactical knowledge.'
Solari, a trusted 'clubman', was chosen. Solari, a former Real Madrid player signed during Lorenzo Sanz's presidency, had moved into coaching with the club's youth teams in 2012, steadily building his reputation as a loyal servant of the institution in the form of Luis Molowny or Vicente del Bosque.
However, Solari's record as a head coach was mixed. In 31 matches he achieved 21 wins, two draws and eight losses, scoring 67 goals and conceding 36. His tenure quickly fell apart, culminating in a disastrous week in March 2019 when Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League by Ajax. 1-4) and defeated twice by Barcelona (in the Copa del Rey and LaLiga).
He also has the unenviable distinction of being Madrid's worst home coach in terms of losses, with a 43% defeat rate at the Bernabéu. Yet Solari stuck to his principles, sidelining underperforming stars like Isco and Marcelo while fiercely defending Vinicius. “For me, Vinícius is simple: it is playing time that he needs. He is only 18 and needs experience, which comes from playing,” he said at the time. Time has proven him right.
Now Solari is quietly supporting Ancelotti from the sidelines, hoping the experienced Italian can weather the storm. Meanwhile, rumors persist that the board sees Solari as a stopgap solution, with an eye on Xabi Alonso as his long-term successor – possibly in 2025.
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