Carlo Ancelotti hints at fresh strategy for Real Madrid this coming season | OneFootball

Real Madrid are facing a long season ahead of them, and depending on how far they go in various competitions, could be 11 months long, and involve 72 matches. It clearly has Carlo Ancelotti and fitness guru Antonio Pintus mulling over ways to beat the fatigue.

Last season Los Blancos managed a series of injuries well, and the majority of their squad ended the season in good shape. However the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger were showing signs of tiredness in the Euros.

During his press conference ahead of a pre-season friendly, Ancelotti told Marca that the key was the President Florentino Perez and General Director Jose Angel Sanchez for building such a good squad. He also declared that there would be no more business this summer.

Ancelotti also hinted at a change of approach though too.

“The season can be long and I hope it is. This is what we want when a season starts, to be competitive in every competition. We don’t have a physical plan because if you play in all the competitions it is very complicated. I think we will arrive in good condition at the end of the season. We will think about doing individual rest, this may be a new idea.”

Certainly if Ancelotti can get by without too many injuries, giving rest to individuals over a period of weeks as the season progresses would be a fresh approach for the Italian, who generally tries to play his best players where possible. Amid talk of players being asked to play too often, this would further the argument that football will become more like the NBA, where star players are only out in full force for certain matches.