'The philosophy has changed a bit' - Carlo Ancelotti praises Hansi Flick for brining change in tactics

Football: Before the highly anticipated El Clasico matchup with FC Barcelona on October 27, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has praised Hansi Flick. He believed since his arrival has caused a noticeable shift in Barcelona's strategy

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Varun Sarwate
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Carlo Ancelotti and Hansi Flick (Source: X)

Before the highly anticipated El Clasico matchup with FC Barcelona on October 27, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that he is maintaining a grounded approach. Although there is a lot of excitement about the match, Ancelotti stressed that he is not overanalyzing it and sees it as a contest between two well-matched teams that are playing at their best. Instead of focusing on expectations, he insisted on taking the game as it came and showed confidence in his team's strategy.

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Carlo Ancelotti was eager to focus on the El Clasico following Real Madrid's thrilling 5-2 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. While acknowledging Barcelona's impressive play, Ancelotti pointed out that it is hard to anticipate a result because both clubs are currently riding high on confidence and putting on great performances.

Hansi Flick's arrival has caused a noticeable shift in Barcelona's strategy. With an emphasis on a direct, high-press approach that has received praise for its efficacy, the former coach of Bayern Munich has instilled his tactical philosophy into the squad. In their most recent Champions League thumping of Bayern Munich 4-1, Barcelona displayed a harmony of aggression and accuracy that cemented Flick's dominance over the game. Barcelona has struggled because of managerial instability and financial issues, whereas Real Madrid has historically prevailed in recent El Clasico matches.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona will be high staking match

Barcelona has stabilized under Flick's leadership, though, as they currently lead La Liga with three points more than Madrid. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti praised Hansi Flick for bringing change in Barcelona's tactics. During the pre-match press conference he said, "The philosophy has changed a bit, it's a team that plays differently, much more directly. I don't want to compare the work with Xavi, because for me Xavi did a fantastic job with Barcelona in his way, with his ideas. Many times we struggled and lost against Xavi's Barcelona. This is a slightly different Barcelona, which we respect just as much as Xavi's," as per Goal.com.

High stakes are involved in the El Clasico, which is currently a top-of-the-table matchup as Real Madrid seeks to tie the score with their opponents. The matchup is expected to be one of the most exciting of the season since both teams are ready to give it their all. Ancelotti's calm demeanour betrays his faith in Real Madrid's capacity to perform well under duress, particularly as Los Blancos seek to maintain their current domination in El Clasico matchups.

Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti Hansi Flick La Liga football FC Barcelona