Why Carlo Ancelotti Is the Unsung Hero for Real Madrid so Far in 2014/15 Season

So much is made of the ilk and cost of Real Madrid's players that it is often forgotten it takes a very good manager to bring them all together.

Javier Giraldo wrote in the newspaper Sport this week how important it is for a manager to have good psychology skills—almost as good these days, Giraldo suggested, as having tactical know-how.

The article made a point of revealing how Barcelona's Luis Enrique has implemented different techniques with players such as Neymar, Gerard Pique and Munir El Haddadi for a variety of different reasons.

And while Madrid's Clasico rivals seem to have a confident, so-far controversy-free manager at the helm, the same can certainly be said for Carlo Ancelotti.

There has been no talk of internal problems since the Italian took charge at the Bernabeu over a year ago, which is impressive considering the mess Jose Mourinho left the first team in behind the scenes.

Ancelotti commented on that stage of the club's recent history in an interview this week with So Foot, per The Telegraph:

"

Before I arrived I was aware that there were lots of problems in the dressing room—problems between some players and Mourinho.

Everything that happened in private would end up in the papers the next day. But when I took charge, everything had returned to calm.

"

Even before Ancelotti was officially confirmed as Florentino Perez's preferred man for the top job at Madrid, Marca had already labeled him "the peacemaker".

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

That has certainly been true over the ensuing 15 months.

It has especially been evident since the club lifted La Decima, with a series of transfers taking place since then, which may or may not have pleased the former PSG, Chelsea and Milan boss.

He'd made a point of saying he wanted to keep Angel Di Maria at the club, but the Argentine was sold to Manchester United.

Xabi Alonso was also a surprising departure from the club.

Meanwhile, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez were signed for large quantities of cash—were either particularly desired by Ancelotti?

This isn't uncommon in football, and managers are often left to deal with the demands of wealthy owners or directors of football, but that doesn't mean collisions do not occur.

Luckily for Madrid, they have a manager who is very good at getting on with his job.

Back-to-back league defeats against Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid so early on in a season would often lead to a backlash in both the media and the dressing room at Real Madrid, but they have emerged from that storm, with thanks to Ancelotti, with six straight wins and 27 goals.

Elsewhere he is also handling the integration of Colombian international James well.

Accustomed to a more prominent role, the former Monaco and Porto player is having to adapt to a new role in the Spanish capital due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Paul White/Associated Press

And James revealed, per Marca, that he is completely happy with how Ancelotti is shaping his game, despite a deeper position.

"I play a bit further back, but that's ok. It's what he wants and I'm doing everything I can to carry on playing," he said.

That we hardly hear about the other new outfield signing, Kroos, is perhaps testament to how easily the German midfielder has slipped into the Madrid starting lineup—if there was any hint of a problem, we'd have heard about it.

Ancelotti hasn't forgotten the younger players, either.

Dani Carvajal has progressed impressively, while Asier Illarramendi and Isco are given minutes whenever possible—Jese Rodriguez is set to return to action soon, too.

“I have never had an unmotivated player or any confrontations with players who haven’t played as much as they’d want to,” Ancelotti continued in his interview with So Foot.

“Ever since I arrived, there hasn’t been one fight in the dressing room.”

While he may not be the kind of person to take credit for that, due to his modesty, Madrid's manager is completely responsible for eradicating the disease which was beginning to inhabit the dressing room.

Psychologically and tactically, he has been spot on during his time at the club and his input cannot be underestimated.