'Practically impossible for Real Madrid to find a new coach like Carlo Ancelotti' - Predrag Mijatovic backtracks on previous comments and hails iconic coach

Former Real Madrid player Predrag Mijatovic has been a strong critic of Carlo Ancelotti in the past, but has hailed the Italian manager as "the best coach in history" after he led Real Madrid to their fifth title of 2024. Los Blancos got the better of Mexican side Pachuca in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday, beating them 3-0.

Since Ancelotti’s return to Real Madrid for his second stint, the La Liga giants have secured two league titles and two Champions League trophies, marking his tenure as a success. However, despite these achievements, his team has struggled to deliver consistently high-quality performances this season.

In November, Madrid hosted AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu for a highly anticipated Champions League clash. Despite being the defending champions, Los Blancos were defeated 3-1 in front of their home crowd, prompting criticism of Ancelotti from Mijatovic.

"The feeling I have is that the team has gotten out of hand for Ancelotti. With the changes he has made, he didn't know where to take the team or how to react. In addition to the two to three splendid years they have had, the time has come that the team has relaxed a little. Solutions? Very few. I don't know if he has the capacity to react and restart the situation to motivate the players," Mijatovic stated back then.

In recent weeks, Real Madrid have showcased a much-improved level of play and are firmly in contention for all major trophies as the season progresses. On Wednesday, they claimed their second trophy of the 2024-25 campaign, prompting Mijatovic to backtrack on his earlier criticism.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate him (Ancelotti), it is a very important fact to be the coach with the most titles at the best club in the world," Mijatovic said on Cadena SER (h/t MARCA). "

"It is something that he himself a few years ago did not even imagine. That said, for me he is the best coach in history without any doubt, with his mastery, with the way he treats everyone, with the titles... He is a very complete coach and Madrid will find it difficult to find anyone similar. There will be other younger, more modern coaches, but someone with as many qualities as Ancelotti, very difficult. Practically impossible."

Ancelotti is now the most decorated coach in Real Madrid history with 15 titles to his name in just five years, more than iconic figures Miguel Munoz (14 trophies in 15 years) and Zinedine Zidane (11 trophies in 4 years).

Ancelotti had a week to remember. First, he was recognised by FIFA as the best coach in the previous season, before overseeing a comfortable win in the Intercontinental Cup final. He will be preparing for Madrid's upcoming fixture, a LaLiga encounter against Sevilla on Sunday, December 22, at the Santiago Bernabeu.