Real liberated by Ancelotti’s return but tougher tests await

MADRID: Carlo Ancelotti called it his “honeymoon period” at Real Madrid and club and coach want to enjoy it while it lasts.

Real face Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on the back of a 1-0 win away at Inter Milan that already appears to have put Ancelotti’s team in charge of Group D.

And Real have started fast in Spain too, after five wins and two draws have taken them to the top of La Liga, three points clear of Atletico Madrid and five ahead of Barcelona.

Ancelotti was asked on Friday when the honeymoon period would end after their 6-1 thrashing of Mallorca.

“When it’s going to end, I’ll tell you but so far, I’m fine,” he said.

Real have scored 21 goals in seven La Liga games this season, a total that has been spread across eight different players including Karim Benzema, Vincius Junior, Marco Asensio, Eduardo Camavin-ga, Gareth Bale, Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez.

Benzema has eight of them, as well as seven assists, the Frenchman enhancing his claim to be Lionel Messi’s heir as the best player in La Liga and perhaps even the best allround striker now in the world.

While Benzema’s displays are nothing new, the likes of Vinicius and Asensio have exploded into life under Ancelotti, with Asensio scoring a hattrick against Mallorca in midweek and Vinicius discovering a more clinical edge that had been previously so lacking in his career.

The 18-year-old Camavinga is already a fans’ favourite.

“Camavinga has no pressure, his character is like that, he is very cheerful, he gets along well with his teammates, he tries to learn Spanish quickly,” said Ancelotti. “It is the freshness of youth.”

When Ancelotti’s arrival was confirmed, some were disappointed Real had not been bolder, accusing the club of choosing a safe option instead of a more ideological coach in the mould of Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann or Pep Guardiola.

But while greater challenges lie ahead, the merits of his appointment have so far been clear, with Real Madrid enjoying the freedom that comes with reduced expectations and the emergence of youth.