Tag Archives: ANCELOTTI

China’s big spending football revolution poses no threat to Europe – Ancelotti

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China’s big spending football revolution poses little threat to Europe because the world’s top players want to play in the best competitions, Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted on Tuesday.

The Italian, who has played for and managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs, said modern-day players still chased glory as much as cash.

“I think that the European clubs are safe because the best competition and the most competitive is Europe,” said Ancelotti.

His comments were made in Doha on the final day of Bayern Munich’s winter training camp before heading back to Germany.

Sharing the same facilities in Qatar this week are Shanghai SIPG, the Chinese club which has just bought Brazilian star Oscar from Chelsea for a reported $60 million euros ($63 million).

That jaw-dropping transfer — and the huge wages the Chinese are able to pay — has led to predictions that the hugely wealthy Chinese Super League can outbid Europe’s best in attracting players.

Among the other stars tempted to China in recent weeks have been much-travelled Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez, current Belgian international Axel Witsel, and another former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel.

Tevez, 32, will reportedly become the highest-paid player in the world with a two-year contract of 38 million euros per season at Shanghai Shenhua.

The world-beating deals are part of a Chinese rush into football with heavy political overtones.

China’s national team is ranked 82nd in the world — just below the Caribbean island nation of St Kitts and Nevis — and are set to fail in their bid to get to the 2018 World Cup.

But President Xi Jinping has declared his hopes of the country one day hosting and winning a World Cup, prompting a flood of money into its top teams.

However, earlier this month, the Chinese authorities ordered a clampdown on the mega sums being shelled out on foreign football stars and warned against “irrational investment”.

Earlier this month, Bayern’s president Uli Hoeness told German media that the extravagant spending by Chinese clubs was “sick”.

He also compared it to the boom in American football in the 1970s when world-famous footballers such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and George Best were tempted to play in the US by big-money contracts.

‘Premier League Is My Number One Choice’ – Ancelotti

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The former Chelsea manager admits that he wants to return to English football but will not take on a managerial role before the start of next season

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he would love to return to the Premier League next season.

The Italian, who was sacked by Real Madrid at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, spent two years in charge of Chelsea between 2009 and 2011.

With his former club languishing in 16th place under Jose Mourinho this term, Ancelotti has been linked with a possible return to Stamford Bridge.

But while the 56-year-old claimed that he is eyeing a move back to England, he insisted that he would not take a job this season.

“I had a fantastic experience in France and Spain,” Ancelotti told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“The most important thing is to start; to find a club with a good project and be competitive. If it’s in England, it’s better.

“I will stay out until the end of the season and try to find another club next season.

“Not just in England, it can be in another country, but my idea is not to start now.”

Ancelotti, who won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2010, was also supportive of Mourinho, who he labelled the “best person” for the job.

The Blues have won just three of their 12 top-flight games so far this year, but the former Milan and Paris Saint-Germain coach backed the Portuguese to turn things around.

“Chelsea are used to competing at the top level. They have lost a little bit of confidence in their play and arrived at bad results. Slowly they can move on from this situation.

“Mourinho is the best person to manage this because he is the one involved, he knows the situation and the condition of the players and the club took the right decision to stay with Mourinho.”

Ancelotti: I Was Surprised To See Barcelona Lose

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he was shocked by Barcelona‘s 1-0 loss at home to Malaga but still expects the Liga title race to continue until the last day of the season.

The Catalans had been on an 11-game winning streak in all competitions before succumbing to an early goal from Juanmi at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Madrid then triumphed 2-0 at Elche 24 hours later – courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo – to pull four points clear of Barca, much to the delight of Ancelotti.

“It was an important game after what happened to our rivals on Saturday and above all to take a bigger lead over Barcelona,” the Italian told reporters.

“It is clear that their defeat surprised everyone, as Barca had been in very good form, playing very well.

“We do have a lead now, but as I have said many times this title will be decided on the last day of the season.”

Madrid were rocked by a 4-0 derby defeat at Atletico on February 7 but have since responded with three consecutive 2-0 wins in all competetions.

Ancelott was thus particularly pleased to see his players keep their clean sheet record going at Elche, in what was his 100th game in charge of the club.

“These 100 games with Real Madrid have gone well,” the former Chelsea boss added.

“But I hope to improve in the next 100 and with the attitude of this game we will win many more. We have been focused and everyone has worked very well. 

“After Atletico we have improved on our defensive work. Elche’s players have got great quality, but we have not allowed them to prove it. I had no doubts that we would win this game.”