Carlo Ancelotti's secret weapon – his son, Davide

When it comes to Champions League nights, Real Madrid have normalized the extraordinary.

They showed it during their recent semi-final. With 10 minutes left in the second leg, Bayern led 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real were leaving.

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

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

Davide realized that the team needed more presence in the box, a player to distract the defenders. He turned to Joselu, a tall player with attacking instincts.

The former Stoke and Newcastle striker arrived at Real on a season-long loan from second division Espanyol. Few would have picked him as a player capable of producing a late burst. But as a frustrated senior Ancelotti turned to his son on the bench, Davide made his point: “Joselu dai”. Dai, an Italian term, means “go”.

Carlo relented and told the attacker to warm up. Coming on in the 81st minute, Joselu took advantage of an error from Manuel Neuer to equalize and followed up with a quick second to send the Spaniards to another Champions League final. Ten minutes, two goals. The power of a substitution.

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

How come Real keeps reaching the final when they seemingly have no clear footballing philosophy?

Davide has made it clear in numerous interviews that their teams succeed because of this flexibility. They adapt according to the situation. There is no defined ideology. They can start a game with a 4-3-3 configuration, but this can change several times during the same 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 sticking to a style of play that requires certain players to ensure success, the Italian pragmatically builds his tactics around the talents of his individuals.

“An intelligent coach is one who adapts the game to the characteristics of his players. He would be stupid if, with an attacker 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 often look for a way to give him the ball, I don't ask him to go back.

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

Bayern Munich were not the first team Real had defeated in a rapid turnaround.

Much of the success of this approach goes to Davide, who has become a valuable asset off the bench. He is the one responsible for tactically challenging his father.

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

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

“The process of evolution never stops and it is more difficult to adapt to older coaches,” he said.

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

Formerly a footballer, Davide knew from a young age that he wanted to become a coach like his father. He understood tactics and would have a say in how to organize a team even when he was young.

A naturally curious boy, if he was interested in something, he wanted to know everything. As the son of one of Italy's greatest tacticians, Davide was determined to give his best.

A graduate in sports sciences, he joined his father's team at Paris St-Germain. At Bayern Munich, he became his father's assistant coach. As he often says, his primary role is to offer his father a different tactical perspective. At Real Madrid, his value to the team became more important.

Davide wants to learn everything there is to know about the game. He watches countless matches across Europe, studies opponents and reflects on the data collected on his own players. He supervises training, takes charge of set sequences and designs certain play schemes.

However, its true value lies in its ability to observe specific moments in a match and quickly decide the path to victory.

Take the first league match of the 2022-23 season. Real Madrid had conceded an early goal to Almeria. It took them until the 61st minute to equalize, but they needed a winner.

Luka Modric won a free-kick and Davide was seen giving detailed instructions to new substitute David Alaba on the sidelines. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema stood over the ball, waiting to unleash the free kick. Davide intervened. Speaking to his father, Davide explained why Alaba had to come in straight away and take the free kick.

The set piece was on the right. He was in the perfect position for one of Alaba's sweet left-footed strikes. The defender scored. Victory was assured.

Davide, who speaks five languages, maintains good individual relationships with Real players. He can still be seen giving them instructions. He works with them after hours to develop their game.

As an example, take Karim Benzema's defensive positioning in corners. This is something the French striker has worked on with Davide, to improve his defensive contribution, reduce the number of goals conceded from set pieces.

Aurélien Tchouameni spent a lot of time after regular training working with Davide to better understand how to receive the ball, how to turn his body and how to adapt his posture, allowing him to play in multiple positions. This has proven particularly useful as Madrid have lost several central defenders to injuries this season.

By identifying opposition weaknesses and knowing how to change the momentum of a match, Real have enjoyed some remarkable European successes of late.

The epic comeback after two goals behind in total against PSG in 2022? It started by asking Benzema to apply some pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma when the goalkeeper had the ball at his feet. Carlo Ancelotti admitted to preparing the tactic, aware of the goalkeeper's vulnerability when trying to play. Benzema forced the error, scored a goal and the whole tie was transformed.

Studying his opponents for weaknesses has proven to be Davide's strong point. He uses his knowledge and data analysis to advise his father on the best way to approach the game.

He was the one who took inspiration from Arsenal's approach during the 0-0 Premier League draw against Manchester City in March. He noted how the low defensive block frustrated City. When Real traveled to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final two and a half weeks later, a game plan was drawn up. Ceding possession and playing a defensive game allowed them to frustrate City. Real still needed a penalty shootout to qualify, but they managed it.

Davide has shaken off accusations of nepotism and is now a highly sought-after coach. Just a few days ago he was linked with the management of French Ligue 1 club Reims. A decision on his future awaits him, but in the meantime he still has to prepare for another Champions League final. Will Real win their second European final in three years?