Real Madrid Introduce Carlo Ancelotti

The Italian coach is finally here. Carlo Ancelotti had the time to visit Valdebebas before his presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu. He met the press in Real Madrid's stadium and then it was his own turn to speak to the media present at Bernabéu's press room.

Ancelotti seemed to be a tempered man that likes to take things quite slowly. But he doesn't seem concerned about the press neither. It will be interesting to see how Ancelotti approaches things in what might be one of the toughest environments in global football. Spanish journalist Iñaki Cano warned him and said before asking Ancelotti "Good luck, you're gonna need a lot in this club". Cano is one of the most veteran journalists in the country and knows how everything works in Real Madrid, so Carletto better take his advice seriously.

I asked him about Luka Modric's role in his team. I certainly expected Ancelotti to use Modric as a Pirlo-kind of player, very deep and with one or two working midfielders to protect the Croatian player. But Ancelotti thinks Modric's skills should allow him to cover a bigger part of the pitch. So Modric will likely play as an attacking midfielder with a lot of freedom. That probably means that Xabi Alonso will be hugely important one more season, and that's not good for Real Madrid as the Spanish midfielder doesn't have a replacement in the roster.

Carlo Ancelotti didn't speak much, probably because he wasn't comfortable speaking in Spanish. He did say that Zinedine Zidane will finally be one of his assistant coaches, so Florentino Pérez won't have Zizou on the board. Ancelotti, General Director José Ángel Sánchez, Florentino Pérez and Zidane did have lunch after the presentation, so that probably means Zizou will still be important in every decision the club makes in the future.

Real Madrid's new coach also praised the current roster, saying that he still has to get used to it. About Kaká, Ancelotti said that "we will have to see what happens". He also mentioned Higuaín as part of the team even though the Argentinian player appears to be on his way out of the club. Ancelotti didn't confirm Isco's transfer, but Real Madrid's President spoke in Spain's public radiostation Radio Nacional and said that Isco's deal will be confirmed when the player undergoes the medical process.

Ancelotti was visibly happy, and he even had the time to joke a couple of times. He could get funnier as he gets comfortable . This was a very important day for him and his family after some very intense weeks and it is quite normal to be nervous in such a big stage. Furthermore, Ancelotti kept answering questions about Mourinho and his relationship with the players. The Portuguese coach won't be forgotten, it seems.

It is clear that Real Madrid made a decision to calm things down a little bit, and Ancelotti is the best available coach to do that kind of thing. Welcome to Madrid, Carlo.