Ancelotti shares his experience playing at altitude in Bolivia | OneFootball

Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the effort of his players at over 4,000 meters and emphasized that there are aspects to correct after the defeat in the Qualifiers. Nevertheless, the president of the CBF was categorical: “What happened here today is sad.”

The coach of Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti, admitted that playing in El Alto, where his team lost 1-0 to Bolivia, who secured a spot in the playoffs, “was very complicated” due to the 4,090 meters above sea level at which the stadium is located.

The European coach, who made his debut at that altitude, was candid in analyzing what happened and pointed to the altitude as the main problem for his team, to the extent that it was “the only thing” that made him reconsider aspects of his team since he took charge: “Although the team has improved, today’s match is the only one we have tried to reconsider.”

The Italian described the visit to Bolivia as “a very special match in every sense” and assured that the result highlights the need to fine-tune details to reach a higher level.

In his analysis, he also praised the players’ commitment, as they had to face the challenge of playing on one of the continent’s most demanding fields. “It’s very difficult to play here,” he admitted.

Regarding the opponent, Ancelotti highlighted the strength of La Verde at home and noted that their style of play is often enhanced in that setting. “It’s a team that plays with intensity at home and is very successful,” he described.

Finally, the Canarinha coach pointed out that some of his squad’s mistakes were related to the “environment” and refereeing decisions that affected the flow of the match.

Meanwhile, the president of the CBF, Samuel Xaud, joined in the criticism of El Alto’s more than four thousand meters of altitude, as well as issues related to the authorities and even the ball boys: “What happened here today is sad. We came to play football, and what we saw from the moment we arrived was completely unsportsmanlike. Even at this altitude of 4,000 meters, we played against the referees, the police, and the ball boys, who were taking the balls off the field and putting them back in. It was an absolute disaster.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.