Antonio Cassano claims Carlo Ancelotti hasn't improved any player in his career

Antonio Cassano has blasted Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti by claiming that he hasn't improved a single player in his career.

62-year-old Ancelotti has been a manager for close to 30 years and is one of the most decorated bosses of all time. The Italian has won league titles in four different countries and has lifted the Champions League on three occasions - twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid.

But despite his impressive CV, Cassano, who spent two years at Real Madrid, has boldly claimed on Spanish television that criticism of Ancelotti is fully justified.

"Ancelotti makes you feel good, but I can’t think of a single player that he’s improved in his career," Cassano told Bobo TV.

"Real Madrid are playing badly, but against PSG first and then against Chelsea they had a lot of luck and sooner or later, that runs out. Real Madrid are not playing well in La Liga. If you look at Barca, who started very late, it’s a different story.”

Cassano did, however, reserve special praise for star striker Karim Benzema, while simultaneously taking a sly dig at Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Cristiano [Ronaldo] should pray to Benzema every day and thank him for having played by his side," Cassano remarked.

"We see it now. Before, Karim only managed 18 or 20 goals a year, but in the current [season] he has already reached 50, including goals and assists.

"Benzema was always at the service of Cristiano Ronaldo, who in the end was in charge of scoring 50 goals a year. Today they are totally different footballers and Karim is a centre forward who has the feet of Zinedine Zidane."

Despite Cassano's comments about Ancelotti and Real Madrid, Los Blancos find themselves 12 points clear at the top of La Liga, and they are also through to the last four of the Champions League after beating Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate in their quarter-final clash.