After being unveiled as Real Madrid’s new manager earlier today, Carlo Ancelotti has promised good times will return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 54-year-old Italian manager was officially announced as José Mourinho’s successor yesterday, Ancelotti arrives fresh from guiding Paris Saint-Germain to their first French league title since 1994.
Amongst the hectic scenes at the press conference earlier, Ancelotti looked calm and calculated when talking excitedly about his upcoming tenure as Real Madrid manager.
“The challenge is very clear,” Ancelotti said, “the most prestigious club in the world obliges us to try to win playing spectacular football. I want a team that controls the play, that has a nice idea of attacking football, that has good balance. I don’t think it will be difficult to play offensive football with lots of possession.”
Another big piece of news to come from the press conference, was that former World Player of the Year and Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane will be part of Ancelotti’s coaching staff.
“Zidane will be on the bench. The problem is that he won’t be on the pitch,” Ancelotti laughed. “Zizou was a great player and now he wants a coaching role. I am very happy to have him alongside me.”
So with Zizou on one side and Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez having chased and admired Ancelotti for some time, all seems well in the Spanish capital.
(MORE: Ancelotti arrives as Real Madrid manager, while Blanc takes over at PSG)
However their was a brief mention of the man who Ancelotti takes over from. “I respect Mourinho a lot but we are different. He has his character, mine is different. Our situations cannot be compared.”
And that was that. Ancelotti is now in the hot seat at one of the worlds biggest clubs. He has the stature and ability to succeed. Will a united Real Madrid be European soccer’s new conquerors? Ancelotti hopes so.
BONUS: Below you can watch Ancelotti’s first English interview with Real Madrid TV, as he speaks about the club wanting to taste Champions League glory once more.