COMMENT: In the end, he went back to the future. Florentino Perez and Carlo Ancelotti. The Real Madrid president went with what he knew. At least, from what he knew six years ago. The question for both men is: do you really know what you're getting yourself into...?

It was an understandable choice. One, in terms of percentages, that deserves applause. After the chaos; the carnage of that first post-Zidane season of 2018/19. Florentino going with the comfortable option is one that makes sense.

There was no fiasco like Julen Lopetegui's World Cup-eve sacking by Spain. After all that angst, the now Sevilla coach would last barely months before Florentino acted. His successor, Santiago Solari, fared little better. And in the end, Zinedine Zidane answered an SOS from his old president and for the Madridista things returned to normal.

So having been burned once, twice, you can understand Florentino going back to what he knows. Just as with Zidane in 2019, the president has returned to one of his Champions League winners in Ancelotti.

But this isn't the Ancelotti who arrived in 2013 a title winner with PSG. The now 61 year-old has just overseen a second mid-table finish with Everton. An Everton in transition, sure. An Everton which was still a work-in-progress for Ancelotti; one which still had glaring weaknesses needing to be corrected. But still, Real Madrid's latest head coach arrives from a team which finished tenth last season.

And in Ancelotti's case, he isn't inheriting the young, ambitious line-up put together by Jose Mourinho eight years ago. In name he is. After all, there remains as many as eleven first team players in this Real squad that saw Ancelotti sacked in 2015. But ability-wise? Energy? Vibrancy? There's a chasm. Those players who played so well for Carletto in 2013/14; they're still the backbone of this team six years on. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema... they all remain the heartbeat of Real Madrid. None of their younger teammates match the 2013 version of these veterans.

Ancelotti and a young Casemiro together at Real Madrid

Indeed, it may be about to get even worse with Sergio Ramos and Florentino still no closer to an agreement over new terms. Despite opinion inside the board room. Despite the disparaging leaks we see filtered out in the Madrid press. Ramos, even at 35, remains the team's most influential player. But as it stands, with many of Florentino's fellow directors pushing for the captain's exit, Ramos is set to see his contract allowed to run down. His one hope now is Ancelotti and whether the Italian can convince his president that the planned clearout - which was the key factor in Zidane's decision to walk - can be put back another year.

Certainly, Ancelotti offered a watching Ramos hope during his presentation on Wednesday night: "He is a very important player for all the successes that the club has had. I don't know the details, but let's talk to the player. When I know the details, we can talk more."

Modric has already extended his deal for another season and Lucas Vazquez penned fresh terms just this week. For the internal push of a massive overhaul of Zidane's squad, it does appear there's been a change of heart since the Frenchman's departure. Don't rule out Ramos staying to help Ancelotti for the coming year.

But it must be said, this is a team far beyond the peak of it's cycle. That Zidane managed to have Real Madrid still a LaLiga chance for the final round was the stuff of genius. Real's key players will now be a year older. David Alaba, the Bosman signing from Bayern Munich, is a welcome arrival, particularly with Raphael Varane about to enter the final year of his contract. But the Austrian won't be able to carry the team on his own.

And it's a challenge which Ancelotti will also confront. With finances tight, the prospect of short-cutting the development of this rebuild and buying from outside, is slim. Indeed, there's many inside the club demanding Ancelotti work with the best of Raul's Castilla graduates whom so impressed under Zidane during their late season revival.

Miguel Gutierrez, Antonio Blanco and Sergio Arribas were all raised during talks between Ancelotti and vice-president Jose Angel Sanchez in their initial conversations. Having introduced Casemiro, Alvaro Morata, Dani Carvajal and Jese during his first spell in charge, the board expects Ancelotti to do the same with this current crop.

They're not on their knees. And there is great talent still in the Real dressing room. But as it stands, this isn't a team to challenge for next season's Champions League. Nor even the LaLiga title.

Champions Atletico Madrid are positioning themselves to buy from a position of strength. Indeed, Alvaro Morata is already talking about ending his loan with Juventus and working with Diego Simeone again.

And then there's Joan Laporta's Barcelona. Three signings in three days: Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia from Manchester City, plus Emerson Royal returning from Real Betis. This to go with Ronald Koeman being confirmed for the new season offering the stability Barca so lacked last term.

So at home, as in Europe, this Real Madrid team - and the club - is a very different prospect to what convinced Ancelotti to first take the job eight years ago.

Florentino has gone with what he knows. Ancelotti too. But has either man really thought about what they're getting themselves into...?