The differences in discourse between Xabi, Zidane, and Ancelotti: from “win and win” to “unstoppable force”
In Alonso’s first speech, more football-oriented and with “Hala Madrid,” Zidane made it clear: “I’ll play with the BBC up front.” Carlo spoke the most (and in the worst Spanish): “Madrid will be better than Barcelona.”
Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti have set the bar very high, very high for a Xabi Alonso who arrives with both precedents very much in mind… but also with those of Rafa Benítez and Julen Lopetegui as the last Spanish coaches who did not succeed, not even remotely, at Madrid.
Today he had his first official photo, official talk, and proprioception as the new boss, and for someone who has been a great footballer, a haute couture model and has even defeated the Treasury, it was a piece of cake.
Xabi,
the fastest and most football-mad today, barely spoke for 20 minutes, compared to 32 for Zinedine and 36 for Carlo in his first press conference, the first day in which they explained their ideas, how they wanted Madrid and what they wanted to see.
Ancelotti debuted with a weak Spanish player, for which he apologized, on his first day on June 26, 2013, but he left a warning: “Barcelona is a very competitive team, the most competitive in Spain, but I have great confidence that Madrid will be better.” He warned that Modric was more of a central midfielder than an attacking midfielder, similar to what Xabi said today about Bellingham.
Zidane , less experienced and more daring in his outfit, was more direct on 5 January 2016 : “Yes, I’m going to play with three forwards, the BBC. The idea is this,” he said without hesitation, and had a few words to say about whether he was the new Guardiola of Madrid: “Guardiola is a formidable coach, what he’s doing is impressive, but I’m not going to compare myself. I’ve never done it as a player and I’ll never do it as a coach.” He went on to win three Champions League titles in a row.
All three responded that they felt prepared, without vertigo , “I accept the challenge,” they all said.
THE MESSAGE
The three gave a short speech, with a prepared and underlined highlight.
Carlo (CA) said, “This team has to win by playing spectacular football to make the fans happy.”
Zizou (ZZ) said, “We have to do everything possible to win starting this year. The important thing is to win matches. That’s all it takes. Winning matches . What’s going to give me something is just winning matches. Nothing else. The message I want to convey is winning and nothing else.”
Xabi (XA) seeks to ” ignite the fans, so that they all over the world say, this is my team, if we achieve this, we will have an unstoppable force. Hala Madrid.”
THE STARS
CA hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as “a wonderful player. It’s an honor to coach a footballer like him.” Isco? “Isco can play for any team,” and Casillas “is the captain. But to play, you have to deserve it, like everyone else, that’s a law of football.”
ZZ insisted that the treatment will be different with the stars, “they are experienced players, they are Real Madrid players” in addition to “James and Isco, who are two formidable players.”
XA sees Bellingham as “a special player, from his time” , Vini and Mbappé as “differentials” and Rodrygo as “spectacular” .
HOW WILL MADRID PLAY?
CA: “The team has to be spectacular. They have control of the game, an attacking approach, and good balance, playing attacking football. You need quality, which this team has. It won’t be difficult to organize an attacking game.”
ZZ: “The important thing for the team is to play football. What it’s always done. My concept is to try to play however I can: from the back, quickly, play into the opponent’s half, and keep the ball . That’s my idea of football. I’ll bring a personal touch, an attacking touch. I’ll try to follow my game as a coach. I’ll make sure the players have fun on the pitch.”
XA: “In football today you can be flexible and dynamic, move pieces around during the match, with two that can be three up front or three that can be five in the back line… you have to interpret, then there are injuries… the important thing is to have good players, the rest is my problem.”
He already has the idea: “Of course I have the idea, but sometimes you can dynamize that snapshot of the system. I want excitement and energy, to be ambitious and connect with people. You have to know when to press, have control and organization with and without the ball, manage situations to retreat or press, play proactively and take the initiative .”
THE CHAMPIONS
CA: “Everyone knows about the Décima, it’s a big goal. I have the ambition, the responsibility for this, but the Décima is such a huge motivation that it can help.”
ZZ: “I just want to win titles with this team . Winning the Champions League has always been the goal, and it always will be . I arrive and we’re in the last 16, so of course we’re going for it this year.”
XA: “We have a very good present that can have a very good future and it energizes me. We can build a great team, important things, worthy of all these European Cups that have been won and other achievements.”
WITH WHIP OR WITH TOUCH
CA: “I’ve been fortunate enough to coach great teams. In every team I’ve coached, I’ve had a good relationship with the players. I’ve never been called a peacemaker. I’m a coach. I want to have a good relationship with the players, that’s all. Real Madrid doesn’t need a peacemaker.”
ZZ: “You have to be close to the players; the most important thing is to have a good relationship with everyone. Ancelotti and Mourinho told me the same thing: ‘The important thing is that you do what you think is best for your players, for your team.’ You can’t do the same thing as another coach. I know the dressing room, the players very well. I’m not one to talk a lot, but that won’t be a problem.”
XA: “I need that proximity, that connection to feel what’s going on and what each player needs. I know what I’m up against and I know I like being close to them. I have to talk to them one on one now and try to get the best out of everyone. Pulling together will make us an unstoppable force.”
