Carlo Ancelotti gave a long interview during which he talked about a range topics, including Pato, the race for fourth place, his career as a Milan player and coach, and his relationship with the club.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti gave an extensive interview to Sky Sports today, talking about his victories at the club both as player and coach, his relationship with the club and its players, among other topics.
About the international trophies he has won with Milan, he said: "I made a calculation: as a player I won six of them, two European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and two European SuperCups. As a coach I've won five international trophies. I'd say it's not bad."
On his old reputation as someone who always finishes second, he mused: "Finishing second sometimes is part of the game. But if you always finish second it's not good, sometimes you need to finish first."
Asked whether he was emotional ahead of the party on Sunday before the match against Napoli, he said: "No, I was more tense for the match itself, because it's a bit unusual to have a party before a match. And when you're with the President it's easy to get emotional.
"I'm not bothered by the rumours that [President Silvio] Berlusconi makes the formation. I think it's important to have a good relationship with the President, aside from the fact that there are sometimes discussions on the choices a coach makes, because the feeling between a club and the coach is important to maintain a strong group."
On the worst defeat of his coaching career, he revealed: "The one at Perugia with Juventus [when Juve lost 1-0 gifting the Scudetto to Lazio on the last matchday]. Then there was another one, the 4-0 loss to Deportivo La Coruña with Milan."
Asked if the team had made a pact during the training camp in Dubai: "No, we did the same thing we did in Malta last year, we prepared for the upcoming season. We try to do a preparation that keeps the team at a good level, trying to keep the work varied and doing much individual training. With all the games we play we don't have much time to work anyway."
Ancelotti concluded with a bold statement: "You can bet on it that we will finish in the first four places in the league, and that Pato will score at least ten goals. I have never seen a player that young play so well. I can say that without a shadow of a doubt." [
]link
