Ancelotti likens Real Madrid superstar to Brazil legend Kaka – ‘He’s a fantastic player’ | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti is currently the manager of the Brazilian national team, one where he constantly links up with players he used to work with at Real Madrid including Vinicius Jr., Eder Militao and Rodrygo Goes.

What makes the manager’s relationship with the aforementioned players all the more special, in fact, is the fact that he was the one who trusted and developed them into the figures they are today during his stint at the club.

Xabi Alonso’s arrival, needless to say, has turned the tables around for some of the players whom Ancelotti preferred but it is clear that they remain extremely valuable to the manager even in today’s dynamics.

The former Real Madrid manager weighed in on some aspects related to the club in a recent interview, beginning his interaction by addressing the school of thought that he only managed the dressing room and not the tactical side during his time at the club.

“People say I was managing egos at Real Madrid? Not true. We worked a lot on the tactical aspects as well.”

Ancelotti then wished Xabi Alonso the best during his ongoing tenure as the Real Madrid manager..

“I hope and wish Xabi Alonso the best because I am a Madridista.”

On his second spell at Real Madrid

Ancelotti then revealed how the dressing room had close to no ego when he arrived for his second stint at the club.

“When I returned to Real Madrid, I was lucky to find a team without egos.”

“They were fantastic players like Modrić, Casemiro, Kroos, Carvajal, Benzema, without egos,” he added.

The manager also spoke on how he developed the youngsters in the squad then, all of whom today are established names.

“We built a good connection between the young players like Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Valverde, and Camavinga.”

“Of course, the club helped a lot because they signed fantastic players like Bellingham, Guler, and Endrick, so we were able to build a connection and win two Champions Leagues with a club that supports you a lot. Real Madrid is really a fantastic club,” he added.

Ancelotti is a big admirer of Jude Bellingham. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The Brazil manager praised Jude Bellingham as a player has compared him to another club legend for his style of play and profile.

“Jude Bellingham is a fantastic player. If I have to compare, he’s like Kaka, that kind of player.”

“Really talented, physically very strong, fantastic at arriving at the box at the right time. He did really well and is still doing really well,” he added.

On his approach to management

While Ancelotti is indeed an astute tactician, he has always stood out for his excellent man-management, an aspect in which he is perhaps the best on the planet. Speaking on the same, he said,

“I try to have a relationship with the person, not the player, because if you ask the player: ‘who are you?’, they’re used to saying: ‘I’m a player’, not ‘a person who plays football’.”

“Sometimes a manager has to make a decision that is only a professional decision, but the professional decision sometimes affects the personal relationship,” he added on the complexities of being a manager.

Elaborating on what he meant by the aforementioned complexities, the current Selecao manager said,

“For example, if I put a player I have a good relationship with on the bench, the day after, he won’t say ‘Hello’ to you because I put him on the bench, but I put on the bench the player, not the person, and that’s not easy for a player to understand.”

On the best players he has managed

The manager was then engaged in an interesting activity as he was asked to name the best goalkeepers he has managed during his career as a coach..

“Peruzzi, Dida, Petr Cech, Neuer, Casillas, Courtois. And I forgot someone. I had Buffon when I was at Parma when I started.”

Moving to defence, the manager once again provided an elaborate list with a fair share of Real Madrid names.

“Best defenders I managed? In England, my heart is for John Terry. I had Carvalho, Jaap Stam, Maldini, Nesta, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Varane. Unbelievable.”

In midfield, Los Blancos’ golden trio of the last decade, and notably the current manager Xabi Alonso featured in Ancelotti’s list.

“Best midfielders I managed? Pirlo, Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Lampard, Ballack, Essien at Chelsea. I had Arturo Vidal, Seedorf, Gattuso, and Ambrosini. Unbelievable.”

Source: Rest is Football Podcast