Carlo Ancelotti: what is football in the life of this country? Is it a hope? Is it a diversion? It's a game?
"It should be a game, it was born like that, so it is lived by children, but for this country football is not so much a game, but a diversion, in Naples it is also a revenge, a sort of redemption from the sense of abandonment that this city has legitimately introjected over the centuries.It remains a game for me.Nice, exciting.I still enjoy it, I still do it with passion.I hear so many people say that football can not sleep because of the pressure.I sleep always.
How much does the physique count in modern football? Do you count more than football intelligence and technique?
"No, the most important thing is intelligence, and then, of course, there is genetics, which is talent and also physicist, it's a combination, I do not really care about size, slow players, for example, continue to play football, because football can all play: the slow player, the fast player, the low player, the tall player, it's everybody's sport The physical aspect in my football idea still does not have the predominance 'technical intelligence and tactics ".
Yes, in fact she has Mertens, Insigne and has had Verratti that certainly are not cuirassiers.
"Personality matters more than intelligence, you can only play at a high level if you have a strong personality, like Modric who, physically, he's a bit thinner too - having personality means not being scared at important games. what is said 'this player in important games disappears.' That's a personality flaw. "
Do you think it is imaginable, for example here in Naples, an idea of the manager who stays for several years as is for example in English football?
"I would really like it, maybe here are the features that are suitable for a similar project".
What has Naples like it? To someone like her who comes from the Bassa?
"I like many things in Naples, obviously the landscape and the light: the Gulf of Naples, with Capri in front of you Vesuvius: you wake up in the morning and you have this exciting photograph in front of you, then you have Naples people are very helpful. The Neapolitan does not take himself too seriously, he is happy, available and open, I like the passion behind this team, passion and respect, everyone thinks that Naples is always a great, exuberant, uproar. I like going to the city, I go down the street, to restaurants and nobody has ever bothered me, they are very respectful, maybe because they see me a bit old ... ".
And instead of its fog is it nostalgic? Do you feel it in your roots?
"Yes, I'm from the north but I feel good in the south, fog is the memories of my childhood that remain indelible, I'm so for how I grew up".
You said that if the slogans against Napoli continue in the stadiums, which are then racist screams, she will ask that the game stop.
"I do not want to make a speech just about Naples, of course, I want to talk about the Italian stadiums and the fight against all intolerance: one thing is the funny choirs and banners, the other manifestations of hatred and the demonization of cities, skin colors, ethnic or religious affiliations.It is a malpractice that must end, I believe that the president of the Federation is sensitive to this, the referees are sensitive, there are rules that the competent bodies must enforce.If there are those choirs must be implemented procedures: the signaling of the captain to the referee, the announcement with the speakers and, if nothing is needed, the suspension of the match ".
Koulibaly once told me 'I am Neapolitan'. Do you feel a little like that too?
"Yes. I like the atmosphere here, the environment, Naples welcomes, it does not reject".
Where can this Naples get this year?
"We do not know, I think this team has a lot of potential and showed it in the Champions League, which was very difficult, we have grown a lot in personality, because these games help us to grow, we are a team that can not play at a low pace To succeed we must always work at a high pace ".
Napoli has the best midfield in Italy. Is that it?
"I am convinced of this: Allan, Fabià n Ruiz, Hamsik, Diawara, Zielinski, Ounas, six high-level midfielders, we are very competitive in completeness".
Is Koulibaly the best defender in the world right now?
"He is one of the best, with Sergio Ramos, Varane, and with those of Juventus who are very strong, more than as individuality, as a couple".
Juve is unattainable this year?
"No, Juventus is very strong, very continuous, but unattainable, no, in my football experience I have not found unbeatable teams yet, to keep up with Juventus, you have to work miracles".
The coach you learned most from was Liedholm?
"Sacchi has innovated not only the game, bringing the pressing, but above all the organization, the methodology of the work".
Where you went you left a good sign. In addition to many victories.
"The only bitter experience was Bayern, it was a clash of philosophies, the company did not intend to change the structure, their work philosophy and promote a generational change of players, which they are doing now."
In a distant future, do you imagine the national coach?
"Not today, I had the chance months ago, I talked to the FIGC, but I told them that I wanted to train a club, I like being here every day, I do not like training three times a month" .
Tags:
Serie A