Ancelotti unveiled as Brazil manager, eyes World Cup glory
Ancelotti unveiled as Brazil manager, eyes World Cup glory
Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that his sole aim as Brazil's new head coach is to lead the team to its sixth World Cup title, ending a 24-year wait to return to football's summit
RIO DE JANEIRO — Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that his sole aim as Brazil's
new head coach is to lead the team to its sixth World Cup title, ending a
24-year wait to return to football's summit.
Ancelotti was officially unveiled at a news conference in
Rio de Janeiro, two days after ending his tenure at Real Madrid, where he won
15 trophies across two spells, reports Xinhua.
"It's an honor to be manager of the best national
team in the world," the 65-year-old said.
"I don't have any doubt about what is expected of
me. The goal is to win the World Cup next year, to help Brazil get back to the
top. I'm excited about the opportunity."
Ancelotti was appointed earlier this month to replace
Dorival Junior, who was dismissed after Brazil's 4-1 World Cup qualifying
defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The Italian said he was drawn to the job by Brazil's
footballing tradition and a longstanding affinity with the country.
"My connection with Brazil started in the 80s,
playing with Falcao and (Toninho) Cerezo (at Roma)," he said. "And
since then I've coached a lot of players from Brazil. They have always known
when they need to be serious and when they can have fun."
He added: "I've been to a lot of places but Rio had
been missing. Finally I'm here and I feel at home."
Ancelotti's immediate focus will be Brazil's upcoming
World Cup qualifiers - away to Ecuador on June 5 and at home against Paraguay
five days later.
Brazil sits fourth in the 10-team South American
qualifying standings with four matches remaining. The top six teams will
qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. The seventh-place finisher will enter an intercontinental playoff.
Ancelotti named a squad that includes the return of
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison
and Real Betis winger Antony. Star forward Neymar was left out as he strives to
regain form and fitness after a serious knee injury.
"I've tried to choose players that are in good
physical shape," said Ancelotti. "Neymar came back recently from
injury. He's an important player and he is still part of our plans.
"He is one of several players who is unavailable.
Brazil has a lot of talented players and in the case of Neymar, we obviously
still believe in him. We hope that he can get back to his best and be ready for
the World Cup. I've spoken with him today to explain this and he
understands."
Asked whether Brazil would play the same attacking style
as Real Madrid, Ancelotti was non-committal.
"After 40 years (as a manager), I still don't know
what the best strategy is to win games," he said. "But I know that
the system has to depend on the characteristics of the players you have on the
pitch, so that they are comfortable with what they are doing.
"That's the idea I have here - to enjoy and make the
most of the enormous quality that these players have, and to work so that all
of this quality can be put towards achieving our objective, which is to win the
World Cup."
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento, Hugo Souza.
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Alexsandro, Lucas Beraldo, Carlos
Augusto, Danilo, Leo Ortiz, Vanderson, Wesley, Marquinhos.
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira, Andrey Santos, Bruno
Guimaraes, Casemiro, Ederson, Gerson.
Forwards: Antony, Estevao, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus
Cunha, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr.
