Carlo Ancelotti, one of football’s most respected voices and the most decorated coach in Real Madrid’s history with 15 titles, has spoken exclusively to us at AS. In a conversation with Tomás Roncero, the Italian offers analysis on his new role coaching the Seleçao, the forthcoming 2026 World Cup, the current Brazil squad and looks back at his time at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Tomás Roncero: Good morning, my friend. We miss you in Madrid. Do you plan to live here once you’re done coaching, or is the idea to settle in Vancouver, which I know is a city you are very fond of?
Ancelotti: Or Rio – why not? I’m very happy here.
Roncero: Let me show you this screensaver of yourself and Modric embracing at the Bernabéu on the day of your emotional farewell. Many Madrid fans use this on their mobile phones and it’s hard to forget such a moving goodbye.
Ancelotti: It was a very emotional day, a beautiful day, and perfectly organised. I knew this could happen – leaving Real Madrid. I thought long and hard about it. It was unforgettable, because the emotion was so intense. It was like a communal hug with all the Real Madrid fans. It was the best possible day to say goodbye to the club and a day I’ll never forget.
Roncero: You once told me that maybe after Madrid you’d leave coaching altogether because it’s hard to top that. But then Brazil came knocking and everything changed.
Ancelotti: Thinking about joining another club was complicated for me because the legacy I left here was so big. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. But when Brazil calls, it becomes a huge challenge – a great thrill – to prepare for a World Cup with the five-time champions, the historic Canarinha. Besides, being a national coach is a different kind of job. I really enjoy what I’m doing and certainly feel that I made the right decision.
Roncero: In Madrid you had immense daily pressure, with six press conferences a week. But Brazil also comes with a lot of pressure after the national team being so long away from the summit of the game they used to dominate. How are you handling it?
Ancelotti: I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s a job with more calm, more observation than intervention. I don’t have much time to train, but that was already the case at clubs because of the packed schedules. I try to learn every day about how football works in Brazil, the country’s culture. I live in Rio most of the time and I love it. I’m not in the nitty gritty every day and there’s time to observe things calmly – the players, the structure of Brazilian football – with a very young CBF (Brazil FA) president who wants to change things for the better and that’s a good sign.
Roncero: I see that your call-ups now include players from the Brasileirão, does that mean that you’re no longer relying only on those in European leagues.
Ancelotti: Yes, I have assistants who monitor those playing in Europe, but I focus more on the league here, which is very competitive. We’re near the end of the campaign now and Palmeiras and Flamengo are fighting for the title. They’ll also both meet in the 2025 Copa Libertadores final. The level and quality of the league is very high. In this current squad, seven players come from the domestic league and it is a very strong competition.
Roncero: Brazil has always had a loyal, passionate fan base since Pelé’s golden era. Do you feel they still have faith in the next World Cup, or have the recent disappointments made them skeptical?
Ancelotti: The passion of these fans is incredible and stadiums here are always full with supporters completely devoted to their clubs – and also to the national team. They dream of seeing Brazil fight for trophies again. The atmosphere around the Seleção is intense, full of affection for the famous yellow shirt and that will certainly will help us at the World Cup.
Roncero: And thousands will travel to support you in the stadiums of the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Ancelotti: Don’t forget that Brazil is a team everyone has always liked and admired for its style of play. The whole world has a soft spot for the team because of the legends who have worn this shirt. Whether you’re Italian or Spanish, you’re bound to feel something for Brazil.
Roncero: Has it bothered you that some people there have complained about having a foreign coach rather than a Brazilian?
Ancelotti: Honestly, they’ve welcomed me very warmly here. In general, Brazilians are very open to foreigners and I’m really enjoying it. At the Brazilian FA (CBF) and out on the street, people show me a lot of affection. I’m very happy with that support as they truly make me feel loved.
Roncero: Let’s talk about the team. One of your big decisions was to bring Casemiro back. You enjoyed coaching him at Madrid and a player with his profile is hard to find.
Ancelotti: Very hard. Replacing that position is difficult because it’s so unique. Case is back – he’s a leader, a hugely important player for us. We have a lot of quality and a complete squad, and Casemiro is one of our key figures. He’s vital for Brazil and for the Canarinha.
Roncero: And you still have your Real Madrid trio: Militao, Vinicius, and Rodrygo.
Ancelotti: Militao is doing great, fully recovered. Early on he went through what everyone does after serious injuries – you overthink things – but I see him more mature now, as a person, than before those two injuries and he’s certainly back to his best.
Roncero: Why hasn’t Vinicius shown with Brazil the same world-class level he often reaches with Madrid?
Ancelotti: That’s true. With the national team, he hasn’t quite matched the level he has at Real Madrid. But in the last few matches he’s improved a lot and performed really well for the Canarinha, scoring and assisting and nobody can doubt his talent.
Roncero: Speaking of Vini, you always managed to temper his fiery character and guide him well. Do you feel that what happened in El Clásico was a mistake on his part.
Ancelotti: Simply put, he made a mistake that day and has to understand the role he now has at Madrid – that of a more important player in the dressing room than before. He was wrong, he apologized, and he needs to learn from those mistakes. Nothing unusual. The coach has every right to make whatever changes are needed to improve the team
Roncero: Did not winning the Ballon d’Or affect him too much? There seemed to be a “before” and “after” Vini around that award.
Ancelotti: It might have affected him a little, but right now Vini is close to his best. He’s playing really well and being decisive for the team. He has a strong personality – he doesn’t dwell much on mistakes or criticism. He moves on quickly. His season has been good, and I’m sure he’ll reach the World Cup in top condition.
Roncero: Let’s talk about Rodrygo. A few weeks ago he told AS about the personal ordeal he went through at the end of last season – and how God, his family, and you helped him out of it.
Ancelotti: Speaking generally, all of us sometimes have tough and easier times in life. When you’re struggling, you need help from the people around you. Now I see Rodrygo doing very well personally – motivated, happy – which wasn’t the case at the end of last season. I didn’t do anything special, I just understood the problem he was having and tried to help him in the best way I could.
Roncero: Will Endrick miss the World Cup?
Ancelotti: He’s a very important player – one of the big talents coming out of Brazilian football. I can compare him with Estevão, who’s playing at Chelsea. We’re evaluating him and it’s not true that I said he should leave Real Madrid to go to the World Cup. That’s between the club and the player and what’s been reported that I said is false. He must speak with the club and make the best decision for himself and for Madrid. I’d never tell the club what to do with one of their players as they know exactly what they’re doing.
Roncero: Is Neymar’s World Cup door closed?
Ancelotti: Nobody can question Neymar’s talent, but recently he’s had a lot of injury problems. He’s playing again now, but needs to regain his best physical shape. That’s normal in today’s game – the physical demands and intensity are very high but anyone can make the national team if they’re in good condition.
Roncero: Vitor Roque.
Ancelotti: He’s doing really well, scoring plenty for Palmeiras and much better than when he was at Barcelona or Betis. A type of player I value. Out of the 26 who’ll go to the World Cup, some names are clear, but players like Vitor Roque can fight for a spot on the final list.
Roncero: Dreaming of winning the World Cup – is that crazy or unrealistic given how Brazil have performed in recent years?
Ancelotti: We have the quality to compete and fight for the World Cup. The goal is to win our sixth, and we have to keep that in mind as motivation but conscious of the difficulties that other great teams can pose, including Spain.
Roncero: Let’s talk about Real Madrid. You made history – you’re the coach with the most titles in the club’s history, fifteen, ahead of Miguel Muñoz and Zidane.
Ancelotti: Looking back, we had a wonderful time – incredible years. Not just because of the trophies, but everything it took to win them. The Champions League comebacks are unforgettable memories. If we go back to those nights against PSG, Chelsea, City, Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu – they’ll never be forgotten, nobody will forget those games and they will stay with us forever.
Roncero: Only those inside the ground can really explain and understand the magic Madrid has on those nights that others can’t match.
Ancelotti: It’s something you can’t explain. A kind of magic – a connection in the stadium with the fans… It’s happened so many times that it can’t be a coincidence.
Roncero: And you made some bold decisions. One of those comebacks came after you substituted Casemiro, Kroos, and Modric, ending up with a midfield of Ceballos, Valverde, and Asensio – and you still turned it around. You’re much more than just a man-manager.
Ancelotti: Sometimes you have to make drastic decisions to change something. In general, during those four years at Madrid, my staff and I did a great job. We were united – coaching staff, players, and the football club. I’m grateful to the club for giving me the chance to work well, for supporting me, showing affection, and providing top players that made it easier to reach our goals. I coached fantastic footballers in a great atmosphere. That was key and personally, I also worked a lot. People talk about man-management, but most of my work was tactical – changing things, fitting in new players, young ones like Rodrygo, Vinicius, Valverde, later Bellingham. We worked hard on tactics. It’s a myth that I’m just a man-manager. I aim to keep a healthy, honest environment, but most of my job has been tactical. Relationships don’t need work – you just need to show the person you are.
Roncero: In 2024 you won everything imaginable – Champions League, La Liga, the lot. That summer Mbappé, the best in the world, arrived. Yet the season ended badly. What happened? Was it Kroos leaving? Any decisions you regret – or not taking?
Ancelotti: What happened was we lost our entire starting defense. Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger – who played through a serious issue – all went down. Luckily, Asencio came up from the academy and did really well. People forget how often I had to play Valverde at right-back and Tchouaméni as a center-back, leaving midfield short-handed. We lost our defensive solidity, and that cost us titles. I don’t think it was because of Kroos. We adapted with other midfielders – Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Tchouaméni, Valverde when fit. Güler also grew a lot and is doing great now. We have outstanding midfielders, but finding another Kroos or Modric is impossible.
Roncero: Tell me about Xabi Alonso. You coached him as a player. Could you already tell he’d become a coach?
Ancelotti: Xabi, yes – absolutely. I also had him at Bayern. A player with great vision. I was convinced he’d do well… and he’s doing brilliantly.
Roncero: But even while leading La Liga and excelling in the Champions League, he’s been getting plenty of criticism. You know better than anyone the pressure that comes with Madrid. What advice would you give him to handle it?
Ancelotti: I can’t give him any advice. I watch all of Madrid’s games because I like to see how the Brazilians are doing, and I see a very good team. They’ve won almost every match, but in football you can’t win all the time. Sometimes you draw. One thing I learned at Real Madrid is that a draw there is the prelude to a crisis (smiles). No joke. You have to get used to that. Coaches are judged by results, and so far the results have been spectacular. Top of the league and among the last eight in the Champions League. What more can you ask for?
Roncero: Do you think Xabi Alonso will succeed at Madrid?
Ancelotti: Obviously, yes. I see a solid team – especially at the back – and very effective up front. Mbappé is doing great, and Bellingham is back. I think Xabi can succeed without any problem.
Roncero: Finally, the big names today are Mbappé, Vini, Lamine, Bellingham… A different kind of player than in your playing days.
Ancelotti: It’s hard to say who will be football’s next king. There are only a few at that elite level. Madrid has Mbappé and Bellingham… Lamine is doing really well, and Raphinha – though injured – is excellent, as he showed last year. Haaland keeps scoring loads.
Roncero: But none like Cristiano. He’s still going at 40, chasing his 1,000th goal. You enjoyed great success with him. Will he reach that milestone?
Ancelotti: He’ll get there, no doubt. I have no doubt he’ll make it. In Italy they asked me about Modric at 40, and I said of course he’ll play well at Milan. Luka and Cristiano are professionals who love football and are passionate about it. They’ll always achieve what they set their minds to. Cristiano will surely reach 1,000 goals – but when he does, he’d better not forget to invite me to the celebration of that incredible record… (smiles).
Roncero: It’s been a pleasure, Mister. You should know you left a legacy here and earned the respect of all Real Madrid fans and the entire footballing world.
Ancelotti: It’s been a pleasure speaking with you – and as always… Hala Madrid!
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