Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that Jude Bellingham will not become soon-to-be-retired Toni Kroos’ successor at the Bernabeu.
Kroos had a perfect, tearful send-off at the iconic ground on Saturday, amid a La Liga season closer against Real Betis where he received a standing ovation both before kick off and when he was substituted in the 85th minute.
Following the 0-0 draw, which was a dead rubber considering Los Blancos had tied up a record-extending 36th Spanish top flight crown some weeks ago, Ancelotti once more paid tribute to his playmaker, who announced he will retire after the European Championships with Germany this summer.
“The Bernabeu gave him the farewell he deserves, it was a very emotional night. We are lucky enough to enjoy another week of it. He has been one of the greatest, a great midfielder, with a lot of quality and a fantastic character, with little ego and who has always played for the team,” Ancelotti said.
“[He is] very altruistic. We have been lucky enough to have him for ten years,” Ancelotti added.
“To do better than Kroos has done at this club is very complicated. He has made a very strong decision that no one could have imagined. He’s shown a lot of character and to say goodbye like that is great. It’s a farewell to a great football personality that we’ve been lucky enough to have here and football has enjoyed a great player,” Ancelotti went on, before explaining how his team’s playing scheme will change without the German.
“Let’s see… at the environmental level and at the technical level. On an environmental level, those who are here have to take more responsibility. On a technical level, you have to see. We can think that it can be a more vertical game [we play], with players with more energy and less tempo of the game.”
