Carlo Ancelotti: The Calm Coach Who Still Gets Nervous
Legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti has no plans to retire from coaching anytime soon. The five-time UEFA Champions League winner insists he will only leave the sport when he loses his pre-match nerves.
Known for his calm demeanor on the sidelines, Ancelotti reveals that he still experiences pre-match anxiety. He believes this excitement is essential to his continued success.
The fifth of those triumphs came with Real Madrid in June when they beat Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium, having previously endured a series of dramatic performances in the tournament.
Los Blancos beat Manchester City on penalties in the quarter-finals despite facing 33 shots on goal in the second leg to draw 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
They then rescued victory from the jaws of defeat in the last four as Joselu scored twice – in the 88th and 91st minutes – to stun Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti so often appears to be an island of calm amid the chaos, but the Italian insists he still gets nervous before big games and will until the day he retires.
“A life without pressure or a little stress does not exist. Too much stress, no, but a little is fuel. The day I don’t have excitement before a match is the day I have to stop,” he said at the Mexico Siglo XXI event.
“Before a match there is worry, there is a negative feeling thinking that it will not go well, that they will score a goal… When the match starts, everything stops.
“So, you have to look for calm to handle the situations of the game. I will continue coaching until the fire I have for football dies down.
“Some great things have happened in my life, some difficult moments. My life has been normal. I have been lucky to have a job that is my passion. I am grateful to football for giving me that opportunity.
“I still get nervous before a match, I feel pressure, and as long as that doesn’t change I will continue here. I see myself coaching for a long time, yes.”
Ancelotti is known for involving his big-name players in his decision-making, and he says that collaborative approach has been key to his success.
“It is very difficult to explain what a leader should be like. It is much more important to convince than to impose your opinion on them,” he added.
“A leader must have the ability to listen to those who work with you. They can always give you ideas that can help you.
“It is important to listen and not think that you know everything because you are the boss. You can always learn.”
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