Carlo Ancelotti said he just wants to “have fun” with his players and sets a timetable for taking over the Italy squad.
The Real Madrid Coach sat down with FIFA.com to discuss his glittering career so far.
“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.
Carlo Ancelotti said he just wants to “have fun” with his players and sets a timetable for taking over the Italy squad.
The Real Madrid Coach sat down with FIFA.com to discuss his glittering career so far.
“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.
“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, 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.”
Ancelotti has written a book on his tactical approach, but admits that’s not necessarily the key to success.
“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.
“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.”
Ancelotti has long been tipped to take over La Nazionale, but when asked about this next career step he took an amusingly superstitious approach.
“I’d like to… 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…”