Carlo Ancelotti walks along the edge of the technical area, on the dotted lines. You've seen managers pace about before, and this being stoppage time in the biggest club game on the planet, you're expecting to see the manager pace up and down. Except Ancelotti doesn't pace, he strolls, immaculately dressed as ever, suit unbuttoned, vest done up, both hands in his trouser pocket. Chewing his gum, he strolls leisurely, slowing down even more as he sees his team approach the opponent's box.
With 90:25 on the clock, Jude Bellingham fires in Lucas Vazquez's low cross. The score now reads Real Madrid 3, Barcelona 2. With six games to go in the league, Madrid are up by 11. LaLiga is theirs, virtually, and it's been done in the most dramatic circumstances -- a rapid counter at the end of an intense, very equal match. The Bernabeu has lost it... the fans creating an absolute ruckus, the bench clearing in one of those overwhelmed-with-joy celebrations. There are so many layers to this: Madrid (almost) taking the league off Barca, Bellingham showcasing his pure galactico-ness, a late winner against the one team you hate above all. There's history involved too, as there often is with these two clubs: this is the first time in 88 years that Madrid have won three clasicos in the same season, the first time Ancelotti has ever done the league double. Consider all this, consider the rush of adrenaline, and it's impossible to be unmoved.
Unless you're Carlo Ancelotti, of course.
At 90:26, after the goal's gone in, the right hand comes out of the pocket, the head drops a touch and with a swivel of those shiny black shoes, he's turning the other way even as those behind him rush past. An assistant comes to give him a bear hug, and he's fended off with studied calm. Left hand back in pocket, he's back to the opposite end of the technical area, before taking a pause, clasping his hands behind his back, and resuming his languid strolling. Look closely, though, and you can see that left eyebrow is raised a little more than usual. And that's enough.
A superb player for the highly successful Roma and AC Milan sides of the 80s, Ancelotti started in football management as assistant to the great Arrigo Sacchi in 1992. Thirty (plus) years and innumerable trophies on, he's still the absolute boss of football. In the span of a week, he's knocked out Pep Guardiola from the Champions League (for the third time, more than any other manager ever) and he's dethroned Barcelona at home. And the only thing that will betray his emotions after all that remains a raised eyebrow.
The last time he was at Madrid, Ancelotti won La Decima, the club's elusive tenth Champions League, now he's guided them to one more Champions League win and is a step away from another CL final. And LaLiga success is just about crossing the t's now.
�� @BellinghamJude ��#ElClásico | @LaLigaEN | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/SIgC62EFkG
- Real Madrid C.F. �������� (@realmadriden) April 21, 2024
Oh, the eyebrow and cold walk may fool you, but it's not all 'vibes'. Tactically astute, and arguably the best man-manager in world football today, he has turned a Madrid season many thought would implode (at various points) into one of "oh, of course, they are winning again". Without a central striker to replace Karim Benzema, he's had them play a 4-4-2 diamond formation to get the best out of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham. He's had one of (or both of) Auerelin Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga playing in defence for large swathes. He's seen 30+ injuries strike, ruling out favoured centre-backs and starting goalkeeper. And yet here we are.
Lucas Vazquez, underrated by so many, started at right back and played a hand in all three of Madrid's goals. Against Man City, Nacho Fernandez was a rock at the back. In goal, Andriy Lunin's risen above all expectations all season. None of those talented midfielders -- Tchouameni, Camavinga or Fede Valverde -- have once complained about being played out of position. Brahim Diaz and Joselu have come off the bench and turned games. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have been rotated, those ageing legs kept fresh, and neither has taken issue with it. Late on in matches, especially in the last month, Madrid have looked tired, almost out on their feet, but they've kept on keeping on. These are not accidents. The man Rodrygo says is "like his father" knows just what to do, and how to do it.
Jude Bellingham put it best, speaking after that mid-week Man City game: "Before the game, I caught [Ancelotti] yawning and asked him 'Boss, are you tired?'. He said: 'Yeah, you need to go out there and excite me' - that's the calmness and confidence he brings."
It was that calmness and confidence that was in full display at the season's last clasico too -- "of course, we've won. Calma, calma" -- and it's why Ancelotti's non-celebration is our moment of the weekend.
P.S. There was a lovely touch at the end, too, that spoke volumes of Ancelotti. Going straight to Xavi after the final whistle, he spent a minute in conversation with the Barca legend (and outgoing manager), showing his admiration and respect, before heading onto celebrate the win with his team on the pitch.