An Interview with Carlo Ancelotti
I'm gonna go ahead and say it... Carlo Ancelotti is one of my favorite managers. Pragmatic, easy-going, non-manipulative... He's not perfect but he has a lot of merits to him, especially the way he took AC Milan to great heights in the past. He is the manager of winners and it's only fitting that he would manage the club of winners. ( He was also inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame recently!) There are things in this interview which I really appreciated and I hope others do, too.
Subbing out Cristiano: No, I didn’t ask (laughs), it was a surprise. At half-time? No, because the game wasn’t finished. I wasn’t thinking about subbing him out but then I saw him sprinting and we didn’t need him.
The day after the win at Anfield: The team worked on their recovery. Those who played, worked in the pool. The others, on the pitch. The most important part was that Sergio Ramos trained well.
Will Ramos play?: Of course. If everyone recovers well. The team won’t change much. With Carvajal, who was rested and with Sergio, the team is set.
Is El Clásico coming at the best possible moment?: It’s always difficult to play against Barça, but I’m calm because the team is going to play well.
How is Casillas?: He’s come back with a lot of excitement and desire to improve and he’s doing well. He’s received a lot of crticism, which I don’t get, because he hasn’t failed. He’s a very calm guy, he doesn’t get angry, he’s focused on his job. He works very hard. No one can say he doesn’t work hard.
La Liga for Casillas and Copa del Rey for Navas?: Keylor will play in the Copa and sometimes he’ll play in La Liga, like he did against Elche.
Which centre-backs will play against Barça?: Pepe picked up a knock. One will be Ramos. If Pepe can recover, he’ll play.
Why don’t you rely more on Isco?: There are times when a player needs to improve in experience and I think Isco is enjoying himself. It’s very difficult for a player to come to Madrid and be a guaranteed starter.
Are you going to change the midfield against Barça?: Khedira could be a solution because he’s fully recovered. I put him in at the end of the Champions League match after not playing for six months. That comes with a little uncertainty.
Would Bale have played if he was available?: I think so. When he is fit, Bale plays.
Did you see Barça’s win over Ajax?: Yes. When I watch a team I try and look for a lot of defects. But I didn’t have much luck, I didn’t find many.
Have you prepared anything special for el Clásico?: Yes, a very special strategy.
Will there be a lot of goals scored in this el Clásico?: I think it will be spectacular, because there isn’t another game in the world of this quality. That’s why I don’t understand why we’re playing at 6pm.
You’ve said before that you see Barcelona more motived this year: Yes, they’ve improved a lot since last year. The stats speak for themselves when they haven’t allowed a goal in La Liga.
What do you have to say about the club presidents you’ve had: I like Florentino and Berlusconi because they’re fans. They are different than those who’ve bought the team, like Abramovich or Al Khelaifi, who became fans with time.
Who would you sign an indefinite contract with?: With Florentino because I really like the relationship I have with him. From the beginning he’s showed support and we were in agreement.
Has ever suggest which eleven to play?: Never. Berlusconi called me, told me who to play and I asked him why….
What’s your secret?: Listen to everyone and make a decision. I like to listen, sometimes it gives you an idea. He gave me the idea to put Pirlo at midfield because I wasn’t convinced.
Is there any player on this team that asked you to change positions?: Sergio Ramos told me he wanted to play as the striker. He likes playing in the attack and he has the quality to play there. I put him at midfield for one game, he could be a change for Saturday (laughs).
Do you expect to win the Ballon d’Or for managers?: I’ve won a lot in my life. I like coaching Madrid, because there’s no better team. You have to work hard if you want to stay here for a long time.
Would you like to be the Alex Ferguson of Madrid?: It’s unthinkable to spend 24 years at this club, but I’d like to finish my career with Madrid.
Who will win LFP Manager of the Year: Paco Jemez, Diego Simeone or Ernesto Valverde?: That’s a difficult choice. Simeone won La Liga, Valverde took his team to the Champions League and Rayo played fantastic football. I told the fans that they have to go see them, because they play fantastic football. Rayo has courage and they are the best way to describe Spanish football.
Which Barcelona player would you sign?: Messi.
Would you ever coach Barcelona?: If you coach Real Madrid, you can never coach Barcelona. I have to respect my history and the history of the club I’m coaching. Just like I would never coach Inter because I coached at Milan.
Who is the best goalkeeper you’ve ever coached?: I’ve coached the best in the world, but what Buffon has done, I haven’t seen from anyone else in my 17 years.
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