'Can't box them in' - Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois explains why Carlo Ancelotti is such a good coach

Courtois talked to UEFA's media team ahead of Real Madrid's Super Cup game against Atalanta, and he has explained about what makes his manager so good at what he does.

Real Madrid's keeper said: “Above all, he is a great man, a great character and a great coach. He strikes the right balance between giving us freedom and telling us the tactics he wants.

"He doesn’t just talk about tactics, he gives a lot of freedom to our players, like Vinicius, Rodrygo and Modric. You need their natural genius. You can’t box them in with too many tactics. You need their genius to come out. He manages the dressing room very well and also the training sessions.

"We work a lot, but we also laugh a lot. We have a great time. We work hard but we get rewarded for it. And I love it. So I really think he is one of the best coaches of all time.”

Ancelotti has gained respect from some of the biggest stars in the world, which has seen him collect trophies for fun. He has one of the best teams around, but Courtois still believes that his side are only made better by their Italian coach, and will be looking to add more European success next week.

Ancelotti now has the lovely problem of trying to fit Kylian Mbappe into his star-studded group, with Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Endrick all vying for a spot. He will hope that his new signing can hit the ground running, with Madrid facing a potential domestic challenge from big spending city-rivals Atletico next season.