Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has managed two clubs in English football, but his original dream was to take over one of their arch-rivals. The Italian coach admits that the team he really wanted in the Premier League was Liverpool, even though he ended up as manager of city rivals Everton.
It is well known that Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, after leaving Everton. He confirmed the story in the Larmandillo podcast with Armando Ceroni, where he said that he himself contacted Madrid when they were looking for a new manager – after they had reportedly been rejected by Massimiliano Allegri that summer.
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“Actually, I was the one who called them. The year before, I had contacted them to see if they had any players available for us, and it ended with Everton signing James Rodríguez. The following year I heard that they were looking for a manager, and when I spoke to them, I said that they had to get a really good one.
Ancelotti got his first experience in the Premier League in 2009, when he took over Chelsea and won the league in his debut season. Ten years later, he returned to England.
Later today, Wednesday, it is time for the second quarter-final match in the Champions League between Real Madrid and Arsenal at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Arsenal leads 3 – 0 from the first leg at the Emirates.
“My dream was Liverpool – but now I’m a real Everton fan”
“My dream was to coach Liverpool, but then I ended up at Everton and experienced their rivalry. Now I’m a true Everton fan. I really liked the atmosphere, because there is an incredible passion for the club’s colors. You also notice how much Liverpool fans suffer after so many years, but still manage to excel in the Premier League today.
Liverpool were of course the team that inflicted his most painful defeat on him, when they turned from a 3-0 defeat to beating his AC Milan on penalties in 2005. Ancelotti pointed out that Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek didn’t quite stay on the line during the penalty shootout.
“In the 2003 final, I sent three defenders to take penalties – Serginho, Kaladze and Nesta – because I couldn’t find anyone else. It is also true that I had taken out Pirlo and Rui Costa, but it was not easy to find five good penalty takers. In 2005 I had five good ones, but then Dudek was there – and with today’s rules, all the penalties had to be retaken.
Ancelotti also mentioned in the interview that he previously turned down the offer to become Italy’s national team manager because he prefers the daily work routine with a club. However, with uncertainty surrounding his future at Real Madrid, he may be considering an offer from Brazil in the summer – and another opportunity to try his hand at national team football.
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