Ancelotti vows to stay on despite Brazil’s World Cup disappointment | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti insists he will remain as Brazil head coach despite their shock World Cup last-16 defeat by Norway.

The five-time world champions were knocked out of the tournament after a 2-1 defeat, extending Brazil’s wait for a sixth World Cup title to at least 28 years.

Despite the disappointment, Ancelotti rejected any suggestion that defeat would bring an end to his tenure, insisting the setback marks the beginning rather than the end of his project.

“I don’t think this is the end,” Ancelotti said.

“I think this is the start of a new cycle.

“Brazil could have competed right to the end of this World Cup, even considering what happened in today’s game.

“What I can say, what we can do and what we are going to do, is keep working hard for the national team, keep trying to improve and find new ideas.

“I am very much used to this and we will handle this. We will use it as fuel going forward.”

The Italian, who took charge last year and is under contract until after the 2030 World Cup, also defended his players after a tournament that ended far earlier than expected.

“It is a very disappointing result and all of us are really saddened,” he said.

“But this was a great group and I have to thank my players. They worked really hard.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose, but we have to accept it. That is football. That is sport. Sometimes you have to manage the sadness and bitter taste of a defeat.”

Brazil arrived at the tournament under pressure after a difficult qualification campaign but recovered to go unbeaten through the group stage before edging past Japan in the last 32 with a stoppage-time winner.

However, Erling Haaland‘s clinical finishing ended their hopes of lifting the trophy, with Neymar’s late penalty unable to spark a comeback in what proved to be the final international appearance of Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The defeat means Brazil’s World Cup drought stretches beyond a quarter of a century, with their last triumph remaining the 2002 victory in Japan and South Korea.

Ancelotti, though, believes the foundations remain in place and is determined to lead Brazil into a new era rather than walk away after his first major disappointment in charge.