[Sports] Ancelotti's secret weapon - his son

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They showed that in their recent semi-final. With 10 minutes left in the second leg, Bayern were 1-0 up at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real were heading out.

Davide Ancelotti had been pestering his father, Carlo, to make one particular substitution.

Jude Bellingham, who regularly makes timely runs into the box from midfield, was tiring. Bayern were concentrating all their energy on defending against the power and pace of Vinicius Jr.

Davide realised the team needed more presence in the box, a player to split the defenders' attention. He looked to Joselu, a player with a tall frame and striker's instinct.

The former Stoke and Newcastle forward had come to Real on a season's loan from second division Espanyol. Not many would have picked him out as the player to produce some late brilliance. But as a frustrated Ancelotti senior turned to his son on the bench, Davide made his point: "Joselu dai." Dai, an Italian term, means 'come on'.

Carlo relented and told the striker to warm up. Thrown on in the 81st minute, Joselu capitalised on a Manuel Neuer error to equalise and followed it up with a quick second to send the Spaniards to yet another Champions League final. Ten minutes, two goals. The power of one substitution.

Once again, Davide had made the right call. Carlo's son, as Real's assistant manager, continues to be his secret weapon.

How is it that Real continue to reach finals despite apparently not having a clear footballing philosophy?

Davide has made it clear in many interviews that their teams succeed through that flexibility. They adapt according to the situation. There is no set ideology. They may start a game with a 4-3-3 set-up, but it can change many times during a single game.

In an intriguing interview with Corriere dello Sport, Carlo Ancelotti explained: "I don't believe in ideologies like Guardiolismo, Sarrismo... I believe in the identity of the team."

Rather than be wedded to a style of play that requires certain players to ensure its success, the Italian pragmatically builds his tactics around the talents of his individuals.

"A clever coach is one who adapts the game to the characteristics of his players. He would be an idiot if, with a forward like Vinicius, who has a motorcycle under his feet, he did not bet on the counter-attack. Another example: if I have Cristiano [Ronaldo], I look for a way to get the ball to him often, I don't ask him to go back."

Since his return to Real Madrid, Ancelotti has more than ever focused his side on adapting to opponents, creating chaos, forcing errors, pouncing on them.

Bayern Munich were not the first team undone by Real in a fast turnaround.

Much of the success of this approach is down to Davide, who has grown to be a valued asset on the bench. He is the man tasked with challenging his father tactically.

Javi Martinez, the former Bayern midfielder, has played for both Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.

He described the role Davide has played in his father's continuing success.

"The evolution process never stops and it is more difficult to adapt for older coaches," he said.

"Davide completes Carlo and helps him understand the evolution of football. Davide is incredible: prepared, serious, a great person, like his father."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c722wppjdxqo