Carlo Ancelotti: Real Madrid boss making Eder Militao his 'assistant' was superb

With this season’s La Liga title already sewn up, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid side have the luxury of using the last few matches of their domestic campaign as glorified warm-up fixtures ahead of their Champions League final showdown with Liverpool in Paris on May 28.

After wrapping up top spot in the league with a 4-0 win against Espanyol two weeks ago, Ancelotti demonstrated his relaxed approach to the remainder of the La Liga season by fielding a weakened side for the Madrid derby against Atletico seven days later.

The focus of the veteran Italian boss is clearly on guiding his team to a fifth Champions League triumph in eight years at the end of this month and he continued his rotation policy for the visit of Levante on Thursday evening.

First-choice centre-back Eder Militao was given the night off at the Bernabeu, replaced in the starting line-up by Jesus Vallejo. However, ‘Don Carlo’ still had a key role in mind for Militao – and the 24-year-old Brazilian loved every second of it.

Footage of Ancelotti instructing Militao to take a seat next to him in the Real dugout before the game has emerged on social media, with the defender’s wholesome reaction quickly sending the clip viral.

Essentially being appointed Ancelotti’s right-hand man for the evening, Militao could barely hide his glee as he sauntered past the rest of his Real colleagues on the bench to take up his perch next to the boss.

Militao, who has been capped 21 times for his country, wasted no time in embracing his assistant manager duties either, gratefully accepting a folder apparently containing tactical information – which he then discussed with Ancelotti in an animated fashion.

You can check out Militao’s reaction to his unexpected promotion below.