Carlo Ancelotti praises Kolkata’s passion for football as Brazil prepare to face India in a historic friendly and begin a new international cycle.
Kolkata, October 2: There was a different Carlo Ancelotti in Kolkata.
Ahead of Brazil’s much-awaited friendly against India, the experienced Italian began his pre-match press conference with a warm “namaste” and spoke about the love for football and the national team in this part of the country.
Just a few days ago, Ancelotti’s comments about India’s football culture had created plenty of discussion. But this time, there was no mention of that. Instead, his message was positive, respectful and focused on the occasion waiting for both teams at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
“Good morning, namaste. It was an honor for us to be here with the national team. We know how this region loves the national team, loves football,” Ancelotti said.
Brazil are in India for a friendly, but Ancelotti does not want his players to look at it as just another game. With the Brazilian team beginning a new cycle, the match against India is another opportunity for him to look at his players and continue building the squad.
“For us it will never be a friendly game. It will be an important game to improve, just because we are the start of a new cycle of players,” he said.
At the same time, Ancelotti does not want the younger players involved in these matches to feel that they are being judged in a single game.
“For them it is not an exam. It is an opportunity to show the quality that we have,” he explained.
That opportunity will be particularly important for some of the young players who could feature against India. Ancelotti spoke about the need to give them chances and insisted that one match will not define their future with the national team.
“We are going to give them another chance,” he said.
For India, this is a chance of their own.
Khalid Jamil’s side will walk out against a Brazil team led by one of the most experienced managers in world football. The difference in stature between the two sides is obvious, but for India, the game offers a rare opportunity to test themselves against some of the biggest names in the sport.
And Ancelotti appears to understand the importance of the occasion for the Indian crowd.
“We are happy to be here to play against India and to show the quality of our players. We hope it will be an entertaining night for all the people that are going to the game,” he said.
The Brazilian coach also spoke about patience, something he considers an important part of being a manager.
“To be patient in football, as a manager, is an important quality. Because you have to be patient a lot of times in this job,” Ancelotti said.
That patience is also needed while managing a national team. Unlike club football, where coaches get more time to work with their players, international football gives them only limited time together.
“To train a club, to train a national team, it’s a different job,” Ancelotti explained.
“In the national team, you have to be more focused about the selection of the players. You have to always select the right players. You don’t have a lot of time to work.”
Yet, despite those challenges, Ancelotti admitted that coaching Brazil is something special.
“It’s really special to train the national team of Brazil,” he said. And now, that special journey brings him to Kolkata.
For India, the challenge is huge. For Brazil, the match is another step in a new cycle, to test their new faces against unfamiliar opponent. But for the supporters inside the stadium, it is a chance to watch the Indian national team share the pitch with Brazil.
Ancelotti ended his press conference by thanking India for the reception Brazil have received.
“This press conference is an opportunity for us, for me personally, for the whole national team, to thank this beautiful country for the reception that we received. So thank you very much, and we hope to show a fantastic game tomorrow.”
The build-up in Kolkata has been full of anticipation, and Ancelotti made it clear that Brazil are here to take the occasion seriously. For the visitors, the match is another chance to assess new faces and continue preparations for the next stage of the cycle. For India, it is an opportunity to test themselves against one of football’s biggest names on a night the city has been waiting for.
Now, the talking is almost over.
India vs Brazil awaits.
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