🚨 Carlo Ancelotti has been asking for some time from Real Madrid to hire more tactical analysts to expand his team, but the club has not done it.

Carlo Ancelotti’s name is synonymous with football excellence. A serial winner across Europe’s biggest leagues, the Italian tactician has always placed great emphasis on preparation, strategy, and tactical nuance. Yet, behind the scenes at Real Madrid, a growing issue threatens to undermine his ambitions: a lack of tactical support staff.

For months, Ancelotti has quietly but persistently requested that Real Madrid expand his analytical team. The modern game is faster, more intricate, and more demanding than ever before. Clubs across Europe have embraced the importance of data-driven preparation, investing heavily in tactical departments to outthink opponents.

However, at Real Madrid, those pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

During Barcelona’s Copa del Rey triumph over Real Madrid, the disparity between the two rivals was on full display—not just on the pitch, but off it. Barcelona showed up with a full-fledged team of seven tactical analysts, armed with four computers and a camera to capture every nuance, every movement, every tactical pattern. Their analysts were seen working tirelessly, feeding real-time information to coaches, adjusting strategies, and ensuring their team had every possible advantage.

In stark contrast, Real Madrid’s tactical operation looked painfully thin. Only two analysts stood behind Ancelotti’s bench, each armed solely with a laptop. No additional cameras. No swarm of assistants gathering vital live data. Just two men, facing a mountain of responsibility against one of the best-drilled sides in Europe.

It was a jarring image for a club of Real Madrid’s stature—one that prides itself on being the best both on and off the field.

Sources close to the situation have revealed that Ancelotti has been raising concerns for quite some time. He believes that in the current era of football, a manager is only as strong as the support network around him. Opponents no longer rely solely on raw talent; they deploy armies of specialists who pore over hours of footage, analyze positional trends, and create detailed battle plans for every possible scenario.

Without an expanded team, Ancelotti feels increasingly handicapped.

It’s not a matter of distrust towards his current staff—those two loyal analysts have been giving their all—but it’s simply not enough at the highest level. When the margins between victory and defeat are razor-thin, the difference often lies in who can better adapt, better predict, and better execute.

Barcelona’s approach under Hansi Flick highlighted just how critical this department has become. Flick, a tactician known for his meticulous preparation, demanded a large analytical team when he took over. Barcelona, eager to return to dominance, obliged. The results were clear as day: their on-field adjustments were quicker, their exploitation of Madrid’s weaknesses more precise.

For Ancelotti, watching this unfold must have been bittersweet. His tactical nous remains world-class, but even the sharpest mind needs tools to fully execute its vision.

The frustration is understandable. This is a manager who has won it all—from Serie A titles to Champions League glories. Yet, despite his success, he faces a battle off the pitch to modernize a club sometimes too reliant on its historic prestige.

Football has evolved. It’s no longer just about great players—it’s about great preparation. Clubs like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and now Barcelona invest heavily in tactical infrastructure. Their training grounds look more like tech hubs than traditional football pitches.

Real Madrid risks being left behind if they don’t adapt.

Ancelotti’s requests are not extravagant demands; they are necessary steps to ensure the club remains competitive at the very top. He is fighting not just for short-term success, but for the future of Real Madrid’s dominance in an increasingly complex football world.

As tensions simmer, it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid’s hierarchy will finally act. The club’s legendary motto, “Hasta el final, vamos Real” (Until the end, let’s go Real), must be backed by the right resources to win those battles.

For now, Ancelotti soldiers on, doing what he can with the tools he has. But the message is clear: the gap between Madrid and the tactical elite is growing, and unless action is taken, no amount of individual brilliance on the pitch will be enough to close it.

The ball is now firmly in Florentino Pérez’s court.

Will Real Madrid heed the call of one of its greatest managers? Or will they continue to cling to tradition, risking their place at the summit of European football?

Only time will tell.