Carlo Ancelotti was diplomatic, in the interview with Sheetabout the controversy that arose at the Brazilian Football Coaches Forum, at the beginning of November, in Rio. In the presence of the Italian, two former Brazilian coaches, Emerson Leão and Oswaldo de Oliveira, criticized the current predominance of foreigners in major national clubs.
“I spoke to Oswaldo and Leão during that meeting,” said Ancelotti. “They expressed their opinions, which I totally respect and I don’t want to comment on, especially because the reception I received in Brazil was exceptional and some statements made after this episode were unnecessary,” he added.
“I feel very good in Brazil and I also feel very good with the Brazilian coaches I met, Rogério [Ceni] to Filipe Luís, all the coaches I met when I went to watch games”, Ancelotti told the reporter, referring to the matches he saw in situ in recent months.
Although Leão and Oswaldo did not attack Ancelotti personally, their statements were considered impolite.
“We, coaches, are guilty of the invasion of other coaches, who have nothing to do with it. We are not talking about names, we are not talking about nationality. We are talking about our mistake”, said Leão at the event.
Images from the event show that Ancelotti and Leão spoke cordially on stage, minutes later, while Oswaldo spoke.
“As Leão said, I am also in favor of the presence of Brazilian coaches, both in clubs and in the national team”, said Oswaldo. “But I confess to you that there is no way, it has to be a foreigner, so I hoped it would be that gentleman”, he added, turning to shake hands with an apparently surprised Ancelotti.
