Carlo Ancelotti explained why Real Madrid is like Milan, cast his eye over the Scudetto race and commented on Gareth Bale.
The former PSG Coach replaced Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu this summer and his La Liga career begins this weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti explained why Real Madrid is like Milan, cast his eye over the Scudetto race and commented on Gareth Bale.
The former PSG Coach replaced Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu this summer and his La Liga career begins this weekend.
“Real are always the same, as the club goes beyond players and managers,” he told the Corriere dello Sport.
“There is a special atmosphere and, like Milan, you can sense the history. It’s no coincidence the two clubs can be compared. Florentino Perez is Real’s top fan, in love with the club just like Silvio Berlusconi is with Milan.
“I am settling in well in Madrid. The ham is very, very good.”
Unlike the Rossoneri, Real Madrid have huge transfer funds and could smash the world record for Tottenham winger Bale.
“Will Bale arrive? Today I say no, as there are no new developments. When I spoke about this recently, Andre Villas Boas complained, so it’s a delicate issue to discuss.”
Ancelotti turned his focus towards Serie A and the Scudetto race, where Juventus are looking for a third straight title.
“Juve are the favourites, but watch out for Milan. I say that because they are the side with the fewest question marks over new signings. Napoli, Roma, Fiorentina and Inter have changed a great deal and need to be tested.
“Inter are starting from scratch with new players and above all a new Coach. They need time. This is the kind of tactical approach that had only been experimented with briefly under Gian Piero Gasperini.”
When asked to name his ideal XI from his career, Ancelotti found it tougher than expected.
“Buffon in goal, Ivanovic, Nesta, Cannavaro and Maldini in defence. Pirlo and Lampard in front of the back four. Zidane and Kaka behind the strikers. Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack? These are all players I worked with.
“Of course, in goal I forgot about Dida, who was in the Manchester Champions League Final, and Peruzzi. In defence we can’t leave out Cafu, Terry and Thuram.
“As for the midfield, you need Gattuso to keep them solid, then Seedorf, Davids and the current Real players.
“In attack, we’ve got to have Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Drogba and Crespo. It’d be chaos if I left out Pippo, who scored a brace in the Champions League Final in Athens.
“I can never make up an ideal XI, as I’d need 10 or 20 and they’d all be fantastic.”