Having tasted major silverware success with
some of Europe’s biggest clubs – AC Milan,
Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid – Carlo Ancelotti
is, above all else, a winner. Indeed, most
recently, the former midfielder, who represented
Italy at the 1990 World Cup on home soil, guided
Real Madrid to victory in the Copa del Rey, the
UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and
the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco in a trophy-
laden 2014.
In this interview with FIFA.com, the 55-year-old
touched on his working methods, how he
handles top players and whether or not he will
ever be Italy coach.
There is a lot that has been said about you and
your working methods but, in your view, who is
the real Carlo Ancelotti?
I’m just a coach who really likes his job, who still
has fun, and who tries to have a good, close
relationship with his players. Someone who, by
working alongside them, aims to achieve the
goals the club expects of us.
How hard is it to have fun with your players?
It isn’t hard. Over the course of my career I’ve
worked at the very highest levels with the most
responsible and professional players around. I’d
say that the higher the level (they play at), the
more responsible and professional they are. That
makes everything pretty simple, especially at
Real Madrid. Here I’ve found a group of very
focused, very motivated players, who work well
as a team. They get on really well with each
other and that makes everything more
straightforward.
What do you place most importance on: the
mental, tactical or technical side of the game?
I think that in football, at this moment in time,
the mental side of the game is most important.
It’s vital to keep everyone in the squad
motivated, even those who aren’t playing. Then
comes the tactical side too, building a team that
puts the idea of playing as a unit, as a group,
first, and then comes convincing great players
that they need to harness their individual
qualities for the good of the team.
You have managed AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG and
now Real Madrid, with the pressure to win
trophies ever-present. What’s the hardest thing
about tackling challenges of this size?
For a coach, the most important thing is the
relationship he can forge with his players. You
might come in with your ideas in mind, but then
it comes down to them to put them into practice
on the pitch. If you’ve a good relationship, then
footballers take on board your ideas more easily.
So, that’s the hardest part. Then of course, at
Real Madrid you have to win, at PSG you have
to win… but it’s also the case that every team
has its objectives: whether it’s avoiding
relegation or winning the European Cup. That’s
why I feel that, whatever level you’re at, coaches
all face similar problems.
If you had to pick out just one moment of a
success-packed 2014, what would it be and
why?
I think that the key clash of our season was (the
final of) the Copa del Rey against Barcelona, in
Valencia (Madrid won 2-1 via a late Gareth Bale
strike). Although the most beautiful moment
was, without a doubt, the Champions League
final in Lisbon where, after such a long wait, we
claimed La Décima (a tenth European Cup/
Champions League title) for Real Madrid.
In that final Madrid overcame Atletico Madrid,
whose coach Diego Simeone was, like you, a
finalist for the World Coach of the Year award.
What can you tell us about El Cholo?
He’s had an incredible season. He had a fairly
unheralded team and, thanks to his ability,
determination and character, took them to the
top of the Spanish league. Fortunately he didn’t
win the Champions League too, but he’s able to
instill his strength of character into his team and
that’s what enabled them to go all the way to
the final.
The continental title earned Madrid a place at
the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. What was
your verdict on victory at that competition?
In Italy we’d say it was “la ciliegia sulla
torta” (the cherry on the cake). The cake was
winning the Champions League and then we took
the cherry too, which was the Club World Cup.
It’s a major trophy which only the champions of
each region compete for. I’d say it crowned a
fantastic year and of course we really wanted to
win it.
You drew praise in Argentina for shaking hands
with each of the players of losing finalists San
Lorenzo after the title decider in Morocco. Why
do you think that gesture caught the eye so
much?
I don’t know. In my view, at least with coaches
at this level, there’s a lot of mutual respect.
Sometimes we might have differences of opinion,
particularly during a football match, when there
can be a lot of tension, nerves and the odd
misunderstanding, but in general there’s a lot of
respect. I’d say that my gesture was seen as
part of that.
How would you describe Cristiano Ronaldo?
A lot of people would be really surprised by him.
As I’ve said many times before, he’s a player
who’s a one-off in terms of professionalism and
responsibility, even at this level. He was born
with extraordinary talent, but he squeezes the
juice from and works on that talent thanks to a
level of drive I’ve seen in few other players.
You once said that Zinedine Zidane was the
player you most enjoyed watching, but is
Cristiano up there too?
That’s right! (Laughs) Zidane was the player I
most enjoyed in training, but Ronaldo’s the one I
enjoy most in matches – he scores in virtually
every game!
One final question before you go, will we ever
see you take charge of La Nazionale?
In Italy the story goes that we reach the World
Cup final every 12 years: we did so in 1970, ’82,
’94 and in 2006. If that continues then we’ll
reach the final again in 2018, though I think
(Antonio) Conte will still be in charge then. Then
we’ve another story: we play the final every 12
years but only win it every 24. We did it in 1982
and 2006 so, following that pattern, Italy will win
it next in 2030. I’ll be 71 then, so I’ve still got
time…
Comments