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      ‘Cristiano Ronaldo got quicker, stronger and learned after being humiliated by AC Milan.. that game changed his career’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s career changed forever and put him on the path to superstardom after a disastrous performance against AC Milan in 2005.Ronaldo, 39, joined United in 2003 at the age of 18 from Sporting Lisbon and struggled to adapt to the Premier League due to his lack of physicality and end product.Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s career turned after a disastrous display at AC MilanCredit: GettyMan Utd greats Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were frustrated with Ronaldo at firstCredit: PA:Press AssociationBut Scholes and Butt insist the Milan humiliation is what put Ronaldo on the path to superstardomCredit: GettyFellow Man Utd greats Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt still remember CR7’s rough start to life at Old Trafford that “frustrated the life” out of them and other esteemed team-mates.And there was one Champions League match against Milan at the San Siro that saw the star forward getting dominated by Gennaro Gattuso and Paolo Maldini so much that his peers lost their patience.The Red Devils suffered a heartbreaking elimination in the Last 16 as they lost 1-0 across both legs.According to Scholes and Butt, though, one good thing came out of it was the wake-up call Ronaldo desperately needed to turn things around.Read More on Man UtdThe Portugal captain got bigger, quicker, stronger and smarter, which eventually led to him winning the Ballon d’Or with United and four more at Real Madrid.Scholes told Butt on the Football’s Greatest Eras podcast: “I always remember a game at AC Milan and he frustrated the life out of me.”We were playing them away. But Gattuso kept running over to him and taking the ball off him and it was doing my head in. “He was playing against Maldini anyway, but Gattuso just kept coming over, taking the ball off him, taking the ball off him.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”We were having a right go at him. ‘Look, you’ve got to pass the ball, pass the ball before he gets to you. It’s quite obvious what’s happening’. “And I think it was after that game that he realised and he thought, ‘Right, that’s the game, that’s the biggest stage, and I wasn’t quite up to speed’.Cristiano Ronaldo breaks young fan’s phone with wayward penalty and sends him collapsing to floor “Now, whether he thinks that or what, I don’t know, but he wasn’t game intelligent enough. “But I think from that point on, he just excelled. He got bigger, he got quicker, he got stronger and he learned more.” More

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      Fifth place in Premier League set to get Champions League football as England lead way in Uefa coefficient table

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      ENGLAND remain in pole position for an extra Champions League place next term – despite the Prem’s worst European week of the season.Liverpool were the only Champions League side to taste victory, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa all slipping to defeats.Liverpool’s dominance in the Champions League has helped England to the top of the national rankingsCredit: AlamyChelsea are also dominating the Conference LeagueCredit: GettySpurs then lost for the first time in their Europa League campaign at Galatasaray, although Manchester United and Chelsea recorded home victories.But since the start of the new league phase in September, the Prem sides have won 18 matches – more than any other nation – and lost the fewest, those four defeats this week.Italy and Germany, both with eight teams in Europe at the start of the season, have won 16 and 15 respectively, with 13 Spanish victories and 11 for French sides.The Bundesliga and La Liga sides have lost 11 matches, with Leipzig pointless from four Champions League fixtures and all four Spanish sides in the senior competition having lost at least one game.Read More in FootballIt leaves England top of the pile at the half-way stage of the initial phase, with a current coefficient score of 9.428, when the points gained by the Prem’s teams are divided by the seven competitors.Portugal, who only have two teams in Uefa’s biggest competition, are next with a score of 9.2, followed by last season’s top two, Italy – on 8.75 – and Germany, with 8.375.France, on 8.071, are fifth, ahead of Spain – 7.857 – and the Czech Republic.Uefa’s revamp means the two nations with the highest score at the end of the season will earn an extra berth in the Champions League next term.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEngland currently top the UEFA nations tableAll teams earn two points for a win and one for a draw but their club and national tally is also boosted by bonus points accrued through the three competitions.Each of the 36 clubs in the Champions League starts with six bonus points, with the possibility of earning up to six more if they finish top of the eight-game table, although there are no pre-competition bonuses for either the Europa or Conference Leagues.SunSport’s Charlie Wyett runs the rule over England’s squad after two players are given first call-upThe top eight sides in all three competitions at the end of the first stage – the Conference League, with just six matches, ends before Christmas but there are two match rounds in each of the others in January – automatically make the last 16 knockout stage.Teams ranked ninth to 24th are then drawn in a knock-out round to join them.Currently, all seven Prem sides are on course to qualify for the knock-out stage, with Liverpool top of the Champions League standings, Villa eighth, City 10th and the Gunners in 12th.In the Europa League, Spurs slipped from second to seventh with United now up to 15th, while Chelsea are romping away at the top of the Conference standings.While things are almost certain to change, if all clubs finished in their current positions, England would extend their lead by picking up a 4.036 in bonus coefficients, taking the Prem tally to 13.464.That would give England an advantage of fractionally under two full points – the equivalent of eight team wins – over Italy, swap places with Portugal, ahead of France, Germany and Spain.Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

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      Heartwarming moment PAOK star asks Paul Scholes to sign his shirt live on TV after defeat to Man Utd

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes was asked for an autograph from a PAOK ace after Thursday’s Europa League game at Old Trafford.United finally won their first European fixture in over a year when they beat the reigning Greek champions 2-0 thanks to a brace by Amad Diallo.Manchester United legend Paul Scholes took part in a heartwarming moment after the PAOK gamePAOK ace Magomed Ozdoev asked Man Utd great Scholes for an autograph on his shirtScholes, 49, seemed pleased with the result and his night got even better at full-time when he took part in a heartwarming moment with one of the opposition players.PAOK ace Magomed Ozdoev approached the legendary midfielder at pitchside as he prepared to go live on air for his post-match analysis of the game.And Ozdoev, 32, asked the former England international to sign his shirt for his father who is a big fan.Of course the United great happily obliged, and even shared a cheeky joke on camera as he looked back at that beautiful moment of sportsmanship.Read More on Man UtdScholes told TNT Sports: “He [Ozdoev] did [ask for an autograph].”I wasn’t sure he’d remember me, it was such a long time ago. “But he asked one for his dad, so I obliged. I think I spelled it right as well.”United hadn’t won a game in Europe since last year on October 24 in the Champions League when they beat Copenhagen 1-0 at Old Trafford.Most read in FootballSince then, the Red Devils had amassed a miserable record of two losses and four draws in six matches.The Manchester giants are now 15th in the League Phase table with three points separating them from the top eight and automatic qualification for the Last 16 of the Europa League.’That is so disrespectful’ says fans as Alejandro Garnacho snaps back in altercation with Man Utd fanThis was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final European match in charge of Man Utd as interim boss as new manager Ruben Amorim will be taking over on Monday when he leaves Sporting Lisbon. More

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      Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2: Postecoglou pays price for much-changed side as Turkish giants go top of Europa League table

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      VICTOR OSIMHEN’S move to Galatasaray was one of the stranger moves of the transfer window.Osimhen? Eh? The world-class striker for Napoli? Shouldn’t he be joining the best of the best in Europe?Ange Postecoglou watched on as his Spurs team were taught a lesson by GalatasarayCredit: RexVictor Osimhen bagged a brace as the Turkish side got the better of an inexperienced Spurs teamCredit: EPA19-year-old striker Will Lankshear was sent off in the second halfCredit: ReutersRather than, with respect, a move to the Turkish league which, according to Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho, nobody watches?Seeing Osimhen rip apart Ange Postecoglou’s injury-hit Tottenham in the first half here, it only reinforced that view over his curious loan switch to Istanbul.The Nigerian centre-forward had two goals by half-time and could have had six overall were it not for a number of fine saves from Fraser Forster.It was too much for a Spurs backline shorn of the crocked Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to cope with.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey were not helped either by Yunus Akgun rifling in a bullet of a shot to give the hosts the lead.There was a brief reprieve when 19-year-old Will Lankshear netted his first professional goal by finishing off a quality move to level things up.But then even the teenager’s night was spoiled when he was sent off for two yellow cards inside seven second-half minutes.Sub Dominic Solanke’s backheeled finish to give the ten men hope, but in the end Osimhen proved the difference.Most read in Champions LeagueYunus Akgun scored a stunning goal to open the scoringCredit: ReutersFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThis was always going to be Tottenham’s toughest test of the Europa League ‘league’ phase.And with three wins out of three already on the board, it felt like a bit of a free hit.Chelsea fans LOVE Eden Hazard’s reaction as Blues legend is pranked by barber with Tottenham shirtA chance for “growth”, as Postecoglou might put it, for his young side to experience.There were no ‘Welcome to Hell’ banners in the stands, as Manchester United were greeted with in Galatasaray’s old stadium in 1993.But Postecoglou’s team were treated to deafening whistles every time they were in possession.Honestly, it was so loud, that if it was anything like the noise at Besiktas when the played RB Leipzig in 2017, you could understand why Spurs loanee Timo Werner, playing for RB the German visitors at the time, asked for earplugs during the match.Werner was one of six players missing through either injury or illness for Postecoglou.It meant back-ups Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies started at centre-back and, boy, did they have a challenge on their hands.Not just with Osimhen, though he was every bit as dangerous as expected, but also with the evergreen Dries MertensStill going strong at 37, the Belgian was threading through balls at will and had a hand in all three Galatasaray goals.The hosts made a blistering start when Akgun let fly from just outside the box.It was a rocket of a strike that Forster could do little about, despite getting a hand to it.Spurs looked to be wilting in the atmosphere, frequently giving the ball away.But then, out of nowhere, they were level on 18 minutes and it was a goal of real quality.Will Lankshear scored his first goal for Spurs to level the scoresCredit: GettyVersatile Archie Gray clipped a delightful ball over the defence which Brennan Johnson volleyed back across for Lankshear to turn into the net.It was a landmark moment for the 19-year-old, who was released by Spurs’ arch-rivals Arsenal aged 16, and on only his second appearance.Lankshear and Gray were two of three teenagers in Postecoglou’s starting line-up, plus Lucas Bergvall, while there were another three on the bench.One of those was attacker Luca Williams-Barnett, who only turned 16 on October 1 and was due to be in school on Thursday until his club pulled him out for this fixture.It would be a tad harsh to say the rest of the half felt like men against boys, but Galatasaray’s experience and quality certainly took hold.Forster denied Osimhen twice with two good stops but could do nothing about the ex-Napoli man’s excellent first-time finish when seizing on a Mertens pass for his first.Nor could the ex-Southampton man prevent a clever volley from Osimhen back across him to make it 3-1.There were more fine stops from Forster to deny Osimhen and a host of Galatasaray players after the break, leaving home fans baffled as to how they had not scored five or six.Even more so when Spurs were reduced to ten men, after Lankshear was booked for a stray elbow and then again shortly after for a trip on ex-Norwich man Gabriel Sara.The youngster looked gutted as he walked off the pitch.But £65million striker Solanke, who came on shortly afterwards, made an instant impact by flicking home Pedro Porro’s cross.It was hard to believe given the amount of chances the hosts had had, but Spurs suddenly sensed a leveller might actually be possible.READ MORE SUN STORIESThey had a decent chance for it too when sub Pape Sarr could have sent Dejan Kulusevski through but his pass was poor – leaving Postecoglou raging on the touchline.Galatasaray were somehow hanging towards the end, but ultimately they got the win – thanks to the world-class centre-forward they are lucky enough to have.Lankshear was sent off in the early stages of the second halfCredit: RexVictor Osimhen bagged a brace to put Galatasary out in frontCredit: GettyDominic Solanke’s second half goal wasn’t enough to earn Spurs a pointCredit: Reuters More

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      Former international manager named as spectator who died after medical emergency at Bayern Munich vs Benfica

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      A FAN who died following a medical emergency while attending Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Benfica has been named as a former international football manager.Romain Jean was the former manager of Luxembourg women’s national football team.Former Luxembourg women’s coach Romain Jean died after a heart attackCredit: by Roland MinyThe German club announced he died on the way to hospital after suffering a heart attack.Jean had received emergency medical treatment in the Allianz Arena shortly after kick-off, which had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a signal box malfunction at Odeonsplatz metro station.He was initially resuscitated multiple times by first aiders before being transported to the hospital under intensive care.However, one hour after the final whistle, the club were informed that Jean had passed away.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA club statement said: “In the Champions League league phase match against Benfica, FC Bayern’s 1-0 victory was overshadowed by a sad occasion. “A medical emergency in the stands of the Allianz Arena cast a shadow over the game right from the start. “Out of consideration, the Südkurve (Bayern ultras) refrained from its usual vociferous support for their team, and the club also reduced its coverage of the match.”Around an hour after the final whistle, the German record champions received the sad news that the fan had died on the way to hospital. Most read in Football”FC Bayern is in mourning side by side with the fan’s relatives.”Manager Vincent Kompany also paid tribute when speaking after the game.He said: “We didn’t celebrate much after the game,” while also revealing that players only learned of Jean’s death when returning to the dressing room.Jean served as the Luxembourg women’s team coach from 2006 to 2012.Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said: “There are definitely more important things in life than football.” More

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      Ball boy injured after being hit in the neck by a burning flare during Champions League clash

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      A BALL boy at Stuttgart’s Champions League match against Atalanta was hit in the neck by a burning flare, German reports say. The match ended 2-0 to the visiting Italian side but it was the home supporters who made themselves most known. A ball boy at Stuttgart’s match against Atalanta was hit in the neck by a burning flareCredit: EPAOne Stuttgart end was filled with smoke after red flares were set off during the game. In the second half, a burning flare flew was thrown towards the pitch and hit a ball boy in the neck. The incident was caught on surveillance cameras, police said. Medics attended to the ball boy with his injuries remaining unknown. READ MORE IN football According to German outlet Welt, another fan in the stands suffered burns while two others had to be treated for the smoke.Away spectators are also said to have set off fireworks.Second-half goals from Ademola Lookman and Nicolo Zaniolo settled the sides. But there was history made as 18-year-old Jarzinho Malanga became Stuttgart’s second-youngest debutant. Most read in FootballManager Sebastian Hoeness said:  “He immediately gave us an impetus with his easy-going manner, which is how it should be when you make a substitution. “His shot was a little statement of intent. We’re confident he’ll continue to put a lot of hard work into his development.” Champions League games have been using incredible hidden technology all season but have you noticed it? More

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      Brilliant moment Jack Grealish joins Aston Villa fans in Bruges pub on FaceTime after being dropped from Man City squad

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      JACK GREALISH was seen on FaceTime with Aston Villa fans after being left out of Manchester City’s Champions League squad.Villa and City were both in action this week in Europe, with Grealish’s old side taking on Club Brugge on Wednesday and his current taking on Sporting CP on Tuesday.Jack Grealish was seen on FaceTime with Aston Villa fansCredit: XIt came after he was left out of Man City’s team to face Sporting CPCredit: XGrealish was not present as Pep Guardiola’s team suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Portuguese side on Ruben Amorim’s final home game in charge before he takes over at Manchester United.However, the 29-year-old opted to spend some of the evening on FaceTime with fans of his former club.A video shared to social media showed Grealish on a video call with Villa fans following their game in Bruges, where they lost 1-0 following an inexplicable handball from Tyrone Mings.But seeing Grealish on the phone while they were in the pub seemed to brighten their spirits.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey were heard chanting about Grealish during the call.It went: “Take me on up to the spirit in the sky. “It’s where I want to go when I die. “When I die and they lay me to rest, I’m going to go on the p*** with Jack Grealish.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGrealish was expected to be out of action until after the international break.But earlier today he was named in Lee Carsley’s final England squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over the team.Jack Grealish owes Trent Alexander-Arnold £500 as he’s made to regret wager within seconds during England clashGrealish has had a stop-start season after missing out on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for Euro 2024.He has made 10 appearances and has two assists to his name, but is yet to score.The defeats in the Champions League this week were the first for both Villa and City in the competition this season.This weekend Man City pay a visit to Brighton, while Unai Emery’s Villa are away at league leaders Liverpool. More

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      Where it’s all gone wrong for Real Madrid, from the Mbappe dilemma to Ballon d’Or strop and even Wag blasting Ancelotti

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      REAL MADRID were supposed to be world beaters this year.Ending last season as Spanish and European champions they – finally – added Kylian Mbappe, the star who had been in their sights for the past three years.Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid as a free agent over the summerLos Blancos suffered back-to-back defeats at the Bernabeu after AC Milan’s 3-1 winCredit: RexVinicius Junior scored Madrid’s only goal against the Rossoneri from the spotCredit: AlamyBut after back-to-back Bernabeu thumpings, first at the hands of Barcelona and then AC Milan, even Carlo Ancelotti appears to be scratching his head.Speaking after the Milan humbling, their second defeat in four Champions League games, Ancelotti said: “What’s not so normal is that this team had a very good run and has fallen so fast.”But that is part of football too: when you think everything is perfect, you fall.”The reality is what was seen on the pitch. We have to be worried. We’re lacking something.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSOn recent performances, lacking something appears to be quite the understatement – Don Carlo has a lot on his plate.Mbappe’s Madrid move hasn’t got off to great startMBAPPEAfter years of flirting the French superstar finally arrived in the Spanish capital this summer, albeit off the back of a deflating Euro 2024.He was supposed to be the final piece in an already impressive jigsaw but his arrival has caused more problems than it has solved.Mbappe has eight goals in all competitions, six of which came in an impressive run of five games, but the forward has unsettled Ancelotti’s plan.Most read in FootballAnd his shot conversion rate as plummeted down from an average of 21 at Paris Saint-Germain to just 11.42 at Madrid.Against Barcelona, his first taste of a fixture he will have played over in his head time and again over the years, things went badly wrong.The forward was caught offside a shocking eight times – more than any player in one game across Europe’s top league for eight years.Mbappe might have to learn how to play as a number nineJude Bellingham kicks bottle in fury after he is subbed in AC Milan defeat as Thierry Henry gives theory behind strop But merely pinning the problems on his arrival could be misleading.Spanish football expert and pundit, Terry Gibson, told SunSport: “People couldn’t be more wrong.”He is an easy target, there are loads of reasons why they are faltering.”He suffered at the start before he scored a goal, but got going and his goalscoring record is good.”He has moved to a new club, league and position but he is working hard and is a constant threat.”There are other reasons Real Madrid are struggling.”It has made it complicated for Ancelotti to find a way of playing but he has failed so far this year to find a system.”Madrid already trail LaLiga leaders Barcelona by nine points and are in the bottom half of the Champions League table.BELLINGHAMAnother who looks a touch lost is last season’s boy wonder, Jude Bellingham.By this time last year, 14 games into his debut season at Madrid, Bellingham had 13 goals. The England star is still waiting for his first of the campaign.Fatigue over the summer with the Three Lions spilled into injury at the start of this season, with the 21-year-old missing four games.But even when fit he looks well off his best, shunted around by Ancelotti as the Italian struggles to find a role for last season’s talisman.During the summer Ancelotti insisted Mbappe and Bellingham would gel just fine, stating the best players can adapt to any situation. But neither look happy and the Englishman booted a water bottle after being hooked against Milan midweek.Jude Bellingham kicked a water bottle in frustration after he was subbed off during Madrid’s latest Champions League defeatBellingham and Mbappe’s talents are yet to gel at MadridCredit: ReutersThierry Henry leaped to his defence, detailing just how Mbappe’s languid form was hurting Bellingham.Speaking on CBS, he said: “It’s always Bellingham trying to make the run, trying to make the team play, running in behind, trying to break the line.”I think there is a little frustration. Your nine isn’t going, and your 10-ish is going. I know it can happen sometimes but not all the time. Every single time.”He’ll do it because he has to do it, because his desire speaks, his will speaks.”You don’t win games like that. You don’t win games with your 10 breaking the line, coming back, trying to bend his run, trying to defend, trying to go the other side. And then after, he gets substituted?”I would have been upset too.”Thierry Henry stuck up for Jude Bellingham after Tuesday’s defeatCredit: X / CBSSportsGolazoMIDFIELD MESSDue to injuries and absences, with Luka Modric also on the wane, Ancelotti has failed to settle on any sort of structure in the middle.Dani Carvajal’s injury at right-back means the likes of Bellingham are having to be re-shuffled to cover rather than played in his best position.Aurelien Tchouameni, part of the succession plan to replace Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, was whistled off in midweek and is fast becoming a scapegoat.Gibson said: “There is enough there for Ancelotti. It should be Tchouameni, Camavinga and Valverde and Bellingham at the tip of the diamond and then Vini and Mbappe.”They have to go and get a right-back in January, they won’t win things this year without a right-back.”They got away with this last year because they had Nacho. He has left and no one else came in.”Casemiro’s replacement Aurelien Tchouameni is faced becoming a scapegoatCredit: GettyANCELOTTI QUESTIONEDHe may be the best of the best when it comes to managers in Europe in recent years, but at Real Madrid no one is above criticism.There are already rumours swirling of a return for Zinedine Zidane, while fans will cast eyes towards Xabi Alonso working wonders at Bayer Leverkusen.Gibson said: “I am looking at him and thinking he is changing players and formations. It looks really untidy at the moment. It looks like a group of players making it up as they go along.”Zidane coming back would be a popular choice. It would be classic Real Madrid.”I am not saying he should get the sack or leave but there is a big clamour now for Ancelotti to go.”They have got a weird squad. There are superstars all over the place but they lack depth. They got away with it last season.”Carlo Ancelotti is yet to find the right forward systemBEHIND THE SCENESIt is not just on the pitch where things look askew.The hierarchy’s tantrum over Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, with the club boycotting the ceremony in Paris once it became clear Vinicius would not walk away with the prize, exposed an unhappy camp.That petulance is seeping down to the dressing room too. Ancelotti has insisted there is a “healthy” atmosphere within the squad.But the wife of midfielder Fede Valverde recently broke cover, ranting on social media and asking: “When are they going to understand once and for all that Fede is not a winger?”She then claimed the account had been hacked.Valverde’s wife Mina Bonino appeared to criticise the decision to haul him offMina claimed he was being used wrongly by the managerMadrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or after Man City star Rodri beat Vinicius Jr to football’s top individual gongCredit: RexSUMMERLike all big clubs in Europe, Real Madrid spent most of the summer without their key players.Madrid went on tour to America, where by the end some of the senior players who did travel out were completely fed up – ready to go home.Ancelotti’s squad was packed with youth but those talents have hardly been seen yet.Endrick,18, and Arda Guler, 19, have had limited time on the pitch which, in comparison to rivals Barcelona, is a touch embarrassing.Hansi Flick took a flock of La Masia graduates on their summer tour and has embedded them into the team rather than dropping them back down.Gibson said: “One of the criticisms of Ancelotti is he doesn’t use young players.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Endrick could play centre-forward but that is not being done apart from when he is off the bench, which isn’t often enough.”Guler had a fantastic Euros but hasn’t had a look in.”Ancelotti’s squad was packed with youth but those talents have hardly been seen yetCredit: GettyTurkey international Arda Guler has been limited to roles from the benchCredit: Getty More