Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti to discuss
first impressions at the Allianz Arena, the
evolution of coaching and his own managerial
style, and how his tactical approach might change
from Pep Guardiola's.
After two weeks in Munich, what are your first
impressions of the club, the team and the city?
First impressions are that it's a beautiful
experience for me. I found a fantastic club that's
really well organised, a beautiful city that's really
clean, and the first training sessions have been
good. The players are focused, we have a really
good squad for the season. Everything is okay
until now.
Have you been able to get a sense of how good
this team could be? And do you think it'll be fun
working with them?
Until now, we (only) have seven (first-team)
players here, most are on vacation. But I think the
team are really good, the squad is very
competitive in all positions of the pitch. I'm very
happy and I think we can have a good season.
You've been in charge of the biggest clubs, the
biggest players, the biggest egos. How do you
see the challenge at Bayern?
The challenge is always the same: You have to be
able to build a good relationship with players, to
find a good strategy for games, to help players do
their best. It's always the same. Everyone has
their own character and you have to manage that.
How has coaching changed since you started out
at Reggiana 20 years ago?
A lot. My job is completely different to 20 years
ago. 20 years ago, you had 16 players, one game
per week. Now you have 25 players and a game
every three days. It's totally different. It's not
possible to train a lot on the pitch. Maybe you
can use more video to explain players the
strategy of the game. But it's basically play and
rest.
How have you changed as coach?
My style is always the same. The most important
thing, as I said, is to develop a relationship with
my team and to find the right solutions for playing
on the pitch, together with them.
Has coaching also become more technical?
I would say more psychological. You have to
mange 25 players, only 11 can play. You have to
keep the other 14 motivated and that is the most
difficult part of my job. Every player wants to play
every game, you have to explain to them that
they're very important, even if they don't play
every game.
Is that the toughest part?
Yes it is. Not the technical part, because it's not
about explaining to someone how to play, but
how they have to behave. And that's really
difficult.
How will the tactical approach change from what
we've seen under Pep Guardiola at Bayern over
the last three years?
I don't want to make a revolution. Because what
this team did in the last three years with Guardiola
was really good, they played really well, I don't
want to change a lot. Of course I'd like to put
(forward) my idea, the players have to be
convinced by it. And after that try, we will try and
continue this way because this is a good way, I
think.
What's your idea? Or is this about tweaking
smaller things?
Because we are a strong club with really good
players the idea is to play good football, to attack
well, to score a lot of goals, to try to avoid goals.
Football is not complicated. Good football is
simple.
Did you ever come close to being a manager of
an international team?
No, I didn't come close. I'd like to work every day,
be on the pitch every day. Maybe future, I don't
know. But right now, the idea to train a club day
by day.
You wouldn't be able to coach enough as an
international manager?
It's a very difficult job, because there is no time to
train, no time to prepare the team. For that
reason, we didn't see high-level football at the
Euros. The schedule of the games is so tight that
you have no time to organise a team well. It's
difficult for national teams to play good football.
It's easier to defend.
Of course. With the ball, it's more difficult, you
have to be creative. Without the ball, when you
just defend, that's the easiest.
Are you a bit afraid that trend will go towards
more defensive football, with teams counter-
attacking all the time?
I'm not afraid, because football is always like this.
There's a period when possession is (considered)
the best way, there is a period when counter-
attack is (considered) the best way, and not. That
is football. No news.
You wrote during the Euros that Arrigo Sacchi's
Milan could do both: Play with possession and
counter-attack. You had read balance in that
team. Is that the ideal of football?
The most important word in football is balance, in
my opinion. To be good with the ball, and good
without the ball. This is our job.
Are you looking forward to playing against Milan
and Real Madrid on the U.S. tour, two of your
former teams? Are these special games for you,
against special clubs?
Of course. I was a player and a manager at Milan,
I stayed there for 13 years, with really special
memories. Also at Real Madrid, I had two really,
really intensive years, it was a really, really good
experience. These will be a special games, even if
they're friendlies.
Is it easier for you to prepare players for
(friendly) games against big teams?
It's really exciting for players to play against big
teams because that gives you motivation and
concentration. Loads of people are going to watch
the game, so that's better for every player to play
that kind of game. The result, everyone knows
that, is not the most important thing. But it's
important to have a good performance, to play
well and to try to improve your condition before
the start of the season.
Some players will only come back next month.
How long will it take, you think, for Bayern to be
your team on the pitch and play exactly the way
you want them to?
All the players are back on August 5. As I said,
there's no need for a revolution, so I hope that
the team will be ready at the start of the season,
for the Supercup against Dortmund on August 14.
Posted Africa News Sports
Chapisha Maoni