Ancelotti discusses Vinicius’ headspace, Ballon d’Or coach and facing Milan | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most respected figures in football, let alone from an AC Milan perspective, and today, he spoke about facing his former club ahead of their Champions League clash.

Few people top the respect that the 65-year-old gets from the footballing world, and it is very understandable why this is the case. Starting his career in 1976, he is approaching his 50th year in the sport, and his legacy is only growing with each season.

Last year, the Italian won his fifth Champions League as a coach – his seventh in total – and it would not be a surprise if he made it eight this season, with Los Blancos adding even more star power to the squad in the summer.

Ahead of tomorrow evening’s fixture, he spoke with the press about the feelings of Vinicius Junior, his own emotions about facing Milan, and the events from this week in Valencia, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.

“Good morning. It has been a week of tragedy and we are sad. This is the emotion. We are very close to Valencia and all the cities affected. We are close to them and I hope this can be resolved soon. I want you to understand that talking about football is complicated, just like playing football. We are part of this country. And that has a big impact.

“Out of respect for everyone, I will try to have as simple a press conference as possible, because I don’t want to talk about football. Tomorrow’s game is also special for me. I’ll try to talk as little as possible. Thank you.”

The match…

“Is it difficult to prepare for a match like that? Yes, because you don’t have your head in your work. It was something terrible. We will prepare it because we are professionals. We will try to play it and win it, of course. That’s what we need.”

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On the postponement of the championship game…

“Everyone was clear. Nobody wanted to play. It seemed like the right decision. But we’re not in charge. Those at the top make that decision.”

On his feelings about Milan…

“The feeling is to talk as little as possible about football. As I said, it’s our profession. We have an important, special match against AC Milan, but it’s in the background.”

On what football should do in these situations…

“There are many ways to help. Football had to stop this weekend and then football has to help. Football is a party and you can celebrate and party when you are well. When your family is well and everyone is well.

“When people are not well there is no need to party. Football has to stop. For me it does. Because it is the most important of the less important. But we cannot make decisions. We are not responsible.

On the Ballon d’Or as best coach…

“The Ballon d’Or has passed. My Ballon d’Or was given to me on 1 June when we won the Champions League.”

On how his group experienced these days…

“It was a difficult week because it is not the normal environment. But not because of what happened with the Golden Ball. It just happened. Congratulations to the winners. The sadness is not there, but for what is happening here in Spain.”

On Vinicius…

“He’s fine. He realises what is happening. Luckily we didn’t play on Saturday and Vinicius trained well, like everyone else.”

On stopping football in the face of certain tragedies…

“The power we have is 0. We cannot make any kind of decision. All the coaches wanted to stop the game. Some played, some didn’t. The decision-making power of the coach in these cases is 0. There is a phrase, ‘the show must go on’, but it doesn’t.”

On Vinicius again…

“Vinicius is sad, like us, but not because of the Ballon d’Or, but because he sees the situation of Valencia.”