Ancelotti: "I'm my players' friend."

In an interview with France Football, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti embraces his close relationship with his players as the foundation of his many successes. The coach, who has won five Champions League titles, describes himself as "a friend with my players. And I want to be! They can talk to me about anything. I tell them, 'I want to build a good relationship with you. Remember, I am not above you. But I am not below you either.' The relationship must be built within this framework," explained the Italian manager. This management approach can sometimes create misunderstandings, admits the former coach of AC Milan, Chelsea, and Napoli. "I put one player on the bench, and he might think, 'Carlo benched me.' No, Carlo did not bench Eduardo. The coach, Ancelotti, decided to bench the player, Camavinga. Sometimes, this requires further explanation because my professional decision impacts our personal relationship. And that’s not ideal. I try to explain it: 'I can replace you with another player on the field, but I would rather share a meal with you than with the one I put in the starting lineup.' This isn't always easy to understand. But I’m convinced that having good relationships with the players helps you win." Looking at Carlo Ancelotti's trophy case, it seems his philosophy is well justified.