The situation
The champion is close to returning to work. Exactly, he will do it in eight days. On July 8, Ancelotti summoned the first bulk of his platoon, given that the international commitments of many of them have meant that ‘Operation Return’ is divided into three different phases. On July 8 it will be the turn of those who were not called up with their national countries for the Nations League or for the friendlies of the South American teams. There were also those who resigned due to physical problems and to rest after a spectacular and frenetic season, as is the case with Courtois. Ancelotti and Antonio Pintus planned a staggered and consistent comeback after winning the 14th. In this first batchNext week the two goalkeepers will arrive (Courtois and Lunin), four natural defenders (Odriozola, Nacho, Vallejo and Mendy), a unique multipurpose player like Lucas Vázquez (winger and winger in one piece), three midfielders (Kroos, Camavinga and Ceballos) and two center forwards (Mariano and Borja Mayoral, who returns from his assignments in Rome and Getafe). In other words, Ancelotti will be able to dispose of almost 50% of his squad from day one. All of them will have arrived with 37 days of vacation.
A sixfold challenge
The Italian coach has a challenge before him: fight for the six titles at stake this 2022-23 season: League, Champions League, European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup and Copa del Rey.To prevent this winning streak from being cut short, which comes from the conquests of the 35th League and the 14th European Cup, it is necessary to start without crooked lines. For this reason, Ancelotti and Antonio Pintus, physical trainer, have scheduled a powerful start in terms of physical load so that their men face that final of the European Super Cup in Helsinki, on August 10, with the ideal conditions to defeat Eintracht de Frankfurt, the current champion of the Europa League.