Nice write-up, agree with pretty much all of what you wrote.
The initial squad planning built depth towards a 4-2-3-1. Ancelotti, ever the pragmatist, the ultimate company man, adapted. He shifted towards a 4-2-3-1,
This part seems a bit confusing though. He shifted towards the formation that was initially planned? You don't give any context to what he shifted from, if it isn't a typo in the formation.